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Death from spider bite?

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Redback spider. She has long, shiny legs

Redback spider. She has long, shiny legs

No-one in Australia has died from any sort of spider bite since 1979. Before the developement of redback antivenom in 1956, 12 people were known to have died from redback bites. Sadly, perhaps ironically, there have been spider related deaths since then; a spider—almost always a hairy huntsman—suddenly appears from behind a sun visor or other hiding place in a motor car, perhaps even dropping onto the driver; the driver, startled and terrified, loses control of the car and a crash happens.

So, if you do encounter a spider unexpectedly, try to take Douglas Adams' advice: "Don't panic!"