‘Kind of ironic’: Australian triathlete Jed Radbone shares why he has ended up in a Spanish hospital

Australian competitive triathlete Jed Radbone tells why he was forced to call it quits in the upcoming European races.

An Adelaide triathlete has had to call quits early on his competitive season in Europe after winding up in hospital from a venomous spider bite.

Jed Radbone, an Australian triathlete, who boasts placing third in the European Championship in Estonia last year, has been forced to give up on the upcoming European races as he finds himself confined to a Spanish hospital bed.

But Mr Radbone told The Advertiser he views his situation as “a bit of a funny story”.

Adelaide triathlete Jed Radbone has had to call quits early on his competitive season in Europe after winding up in hospital from a venomous spider bite Picture: Instagram

Adelaide triathlete Jed Radbone has had to call quits early on his competitive season in Europe after winding up in hospital from a venomous spider bite Picture: Instagram

“Kind of ironic as an Australian to end up in a Spanish hospital for a spider bite,” he said.

“I’m an Australian triathlete who has been racing competitively in Europe for the 2024 season, I still had races left to go but unfortunately it’s looking like the season is over (for me).

“I have been bitten by a spider of some sorts which has caused me to spend four nights in hospital, plus surgery to treat infection from the venom.”

Mr Radbone posted on his Instagram that he wasn’t sure what type of spider inflicted the damage as he didn’t notice the bite immediately.

“It was unnoticeable initially, after a day or so I got very inflamed and red, so much so I couldn’t walk on that leg on Saturday morning,” he wrote on Thursday. “I went to the hospital and they sent me home with some antibiotics.

“But it got progressively worse and I spent Saturday night with fever and body aches.

“I went back to hospital on Sunday and they did some blood tests to check for an infection and then pretty quickly the doctor superficially cut my leg to remove some pus (and) infection but unfortunately the infection was too deep and they had to do surgery to remove it and make sure it didn’t spread into the muscles.”

Mr Radbone concluded by saying in his post that he was “fine and getting better” after completing another round of IV antibiotics.

Unfortunately, this isn’t Mr Radbone’s first encounter with serious injuries and extended hospital visits having previously broken his pelvis.

In 2012 Mr Radbone, then aged 12, crashed the Gator utility buggy he was trying to drift on his friend’s property. The vehicle tipped as he drifted, throwing him out and trapping him underneath.

Jed Radbone in the Women's and Children's Hospital over the Christmas-New Year period in 2012.

The incident broke his pelvis in numerous places.

He was confined to a Women’s and Children’s Hospital bed, lying down the entire time, for about two months.

At the time, Mr Radbone’s doctors and family feared there would be permanent long-term consequences to the injury including issues with walking, participating in sports or having children in the future.

However, he was able to overcome the setback and use his painful experience as motivation to achieve his goals to become a triathlete.