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Royal Marine Loses Finger After Black Widow Bite
25 Nov
Summary
- A former Royal Marine had a finger amputated 13 years after a black widow spider bite.
- The venomous bite occurred in the Mojave Desert during a military training exercise in 2012.
- Medical professionals took immediate steps including anti-venom and helicopter transport.
A former Royal Marine has undergone a finger amputation, thirteen years after being bitten by a black widow spider. Dan Cheetham, 41, received the venomous bite on his right hand in 2012 while training in California's Mojave Desert. Immediate medical attention included a helicopter transfer, antibiotics, and anti-venom administration.
The bite left two small puncture marks on his ring finger, which remained for nearly seven years. Over time, nerve deterioration in the finger became severe. In November 2025, his little finger was amputated because it had become non-functional.
Cheetham described the experience, recalling the unusual taste of medication and the physical effects of the venom. His medical discharge notes humorously listed the spider bite as a combat experience. Despite the incident, he maintains no fear of spiders, noting that unseen threats are more concerning.
