Spider Bite Fisherman's Chopper Rescue

[mrmoshe]

Spider bite fisherman's chopper rescue

A man has been flown to hospital after being bitten by a spider in bushland near a river on which he was fishing in Sydney's south-west overnight.

The 24-year-old was attempting to get help after he and a mate became stranded in the Georges River in the middle of the night.

The two men had been fishing on the river, in Georges Hall, when the motor on their small boat failed to restart.

The Fairfield man decided to seek help and swum to shore leaving his fishing partner behind.

He then attempted to negotiate dense bushland in an area about two kilometres from Bankstown Airport, but was bitten by what was thought to be a spider.

"It's a strange story," said NRMA Careflight spokesman Ian Badham.

"While he's walking through the bush he's got bitten on the left hand by - he didn't know if it was a snake or a spider or what - but he was in severe pain, hyperventilating and all sorts of distress."

The 24-year-old called triple-0 on his mobile phone and emergency officers came to his rescue.

However, they found getting the man out of the area on a stretcher was bit more than they could handle, and called a Careflight helicopter at about 1am, which landed in a nearby clearing.

"The cops and ambos have had to carry him [to the helicopter]," Mr Badham said.

"One cop was up to his chest in mud at one stage, trying to carry this guy on a stretcher."

The man was flown to Westmead Hospital at about 2.45am and was released after being treated for the spider bite.

Police rescued the other fisherman from the stranded boat.

[Sharky]

I dont understand why they didnt use there mobile phone to call for help in the first place???