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Swedish golfer tees out spider venom

Published: 14 Feb 13 09:39 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/46192/20130214/

A Swedish golfer who was bitten by one of Australia's deadliest spiders used a golf tee to help her extract the venom and finish the course during a qualifying tournament in Canberra.


The Swedish Golf Federation reported on their website how 24-year-old Daniela Holmqvist saw a redback spider on her leg and then felt a sharp pain above her left ankle.

Seeing her leg swell up, Holmqvist did not seek medical attention but instead grabbed a golf tee from her bag, pierced her skin and squeezed out as much venom as possible.

"A clear fluid came out," she said. "It wasn't the prettiest thing I've ever done but I had to get as much of it out of me as possible."

After the incident took place at the fourth hole, an unfazed Holmqvist went on to finish her round with medics monitoring her progress.

She finished the qualifying event for the ISPS Handa Australian Open in Canberra with a round of 74, just two shots shy of qualification.

The redback - which is related to the black widow spider has a red stripe on the back of its black abdomen - is Australia's most dangerous spider.

According to the University of Melbourne, 250 people are treated for bites each year but no deaths have been reported since the discovery of an antidote in 1955.

AFP/The Local/og
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10:19 February 14, 2013 by Kevin Harris
The spider meanwhile has turned blue and yellow, and is looking forward to watching this year's melodifestivalen while eating cheese doodles and zingo.
11:08 February 14, 2013 by Nifty
Its not april 1st is it? Kevin Harris is probably closer to the truth than this story!
16:58 February 14, 2013 by Danne8
Like a Boss
21:12 February 14, 2013 by Snoopy!
wrong ! get your facts right ...the Sydney funnel web is the most dangerous

http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/view-image.htm?gid=12006&index=0
22:57 February 14, 2013 by jimfromcanada
Ms Holmqvist certainly shows calmness, presence of mind, and focus in overcoming this serious distraction. Great work.
01:04 February 15, 2013 by Dijondel
@Snoopy, that would have been my first reaction, but they did not say it was the most venomous, which the funnel web clearly is,

I have found a few of both in the Sydney back yard, but I have found more redbacks than the other. What makes them more 'dangerous' is that they will be found in children's plastic toys left outside, as well as your average outdoor chair.

Put it this way - you would never find a funnel web on the toilet seat!

I would be verrrry interested to hear what St John Ambulance has to say about this kind of treatment. She must had had a very mild (if any) envenomation.
21:32 February 15, 2013 by Snoopy!
Sorry Dijondel they definitely did say it was the most dangerous, but again The Local doesn't have the balls to admit they were wrong & admit a correction has taken place.
14:29 February 17, 2013 by beeker
Gutsy young woman. Don't know if I could finish a round under those circumstances. Missing wife's funeral so as not to disappoint rest of Wednesday foursome is a different matter
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