NSW boy survives funnel-web spider bite after taking 12 vials of anti-venom

A 10-year-old New South Wales Central Coast boy who was bitten by a funnel-web spider required 12 vials of antivenom in order to survive.

The dose is the greatest required in Australian history, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Matthew Mitchell was bitten on his finger by a spider hidden in a shoe while helping his dad in a shed at their home in Berkley Valeon Monday night.

Matthew said he struggled to get the spider off as it bit down on his finger.

“It sort of clawed onto me and all the legs and everything crawled around my finger and I couldn’t get it off,” he told the newspaper.

His dad David said he knew exactly what type of spider it was when he got a clear look at it after Matthew flicked it onto the ground.

Using a t-shirt to compress the bite, Mr Mitchell quickly rounded up his wife and Matthew’s 17-year-old sister, Natasha, into a car, and rushed him to Gosford Hospital.

Matthew’s symptoms intensified and he started sweating and frothing at the mouth as his eyes dilated.

He then started having seizures.

Doctors gave him 12 vials of anti-venom before he stabilised.

Mr Mitchell had also collected the spider that bit Matthew, and it was taken to the Australian Reptile Park.

Park general manager Tim Faulkner said Matthew was lucky to be alive.

He told the newspaper that the boy would be awarded a “Spiderman Bravery Award” at the park once he is well enough to visit.

Mr Faulkner said male funnel-webs – which are five times more venomous than their female counterparts – are out in full force in February and March as it is the species’ breeding season.

Matthew’s spider is now part of the park’s milking program.