Gatwick Airport staff shock at finding BLACK WIDOW spider stowing away box from Arizona
Stunned staff found the creepy-crawly trying to sneak through customs on its way back from Arizona
GATWICK Airport staff got more than they bargained for when they opened up a bag to find a black widow spider inside.
Stunned staff found the 4cm North American spider when unpacking a box of aeroplane parts that came from Arizona.
They coaxed the spider - now nicknamed Nadia - into a plastic tub and called the RSPCA for help.
Worker Rob Green said: “It was a bit of a shock finding her in the box. She must’ve been in there for quite a while as the box was packaged up in Arizona back in December and arrived over here in July. She has done very well to survive that long in there.
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“I saw her and realised she wasn’t a normal spider from the UK - but it wasn’t until I saw the red spot on her abdomen that alarm bells rang and we looked up what she was.
“We weren’t frightened as I think there have been hardly any deaths from these spider bites - and Nadia was fine. We popped her in the box and called the RSPCA for help.”
Inspector Tony Woodley was called to the depot on Friday and moved the spider to Drusillas Park, in East Sussex for specialist care. He said: “We certainly don’t have many of these spiders coming into our care or call outs for their rescue!
“It was great these guys saved her and kept her safe - many other people probably would not have been as compassionate and kind. Spiders do give a lot of people the heebie jeebies!”
Although extremely painful the bite of a black widow spider is very unlikely to kill you.
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