How long after a black widow bite can complications arise?

Complications from a black widow spider bite, like nerve deterioration leading to amputation, can manifest years later, as seen in Dan Cheetham's case 13 years after the incident.

What are the symptoms of a black widow spider bite?

Symptoms can include pain at the bite site, muscle cramps, nausea, and in severe cases, venom spreading through the body, potentially causing serious medical issues.

Where did Dan Cheetham get bitten by a black widow?

Dan Cheetham was bitten by a black widow spider in the Mojave Desert in California during a military training exercise in 2012.

Home / Health / Royal Marine Loses Finger After Black Widow Bite

Royal Marine Loses Finger After Black Widow Bite

25 Nov

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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.

Royal Marine Loses Finger After Black Widow Bite

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.

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