Western Sydney mum has leg amputated after white-tailed spider bites her foot

“Obviously, this whole ordeal has been an emotional and traumatic experience for Kristal,” her friend Nicole says of the horrific incident. 

Kristal had just landed her dream job and was ready to start a new adventure. 

The mum-of-five, who lives in Western Sydney with her husband, three children and two step-kids, was excited about the next chapter of her life, arranging everything she needed to prepare. 

A week before she was set to start her new job, she was running some errands.

Walking out of her front door to her car, she took a few steps on the lawn in her garden. 

She felt something sting the sole of her foot but thought nothing of it as she continued her day. 

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Kristal had her leg amputated following a white-tailed spider bite on her foot. Source: GoFundMe

White-tailed spider leads to amputation of woman’s leg

It wasn’t long before the bite developed into an ulcer, then transformed into an uncontrollable necrosis and a “nasty infection”

She was bitten by a white-tail spider commonly found in Australian homes. 

These creepy-crawlies love seeking refuge in dark, hidden spaces and commonly live in gardens, beneath rocks, in piles of leaves and in tight spaces inside the house, such as bed sheets, between clothes and in shoes.

While their bites most commonly cause irritation and red marks, they are widely believed to also cause skin lacerations and necrosis. However, experts question whether their bites can really cause necrosis or if it is due to bacterial infections. 

After going back and forth to the doctors, she was informed that the bite would go away on its own. 

However, the bite soon became infected, turning into a “big blister” and began oozing. 

She underwent ten debridement surgeries, infections in her tendons, bones and ligaments and spent 12 weeks at the hospital. 

Her husband, Callum, was notified by doctors that she was being rushed to intensive are with stage five kidney failure and had only 48 hours to live. 

With the infection “running rampant”, doctors had no choice but to amputate below the knee.

“Thankfully, the procedure went to plan with no sign of infection at the level of amputation,” said Nicole, who co-organised a GoFundMe to support Kristal's recovery. 

Her kidneys have also been restored to normal functioning levels, and she is starting physio and rehabilitation to help her learn how to balance her weight without part of her leg. 

“Contemplating life without her leg is overwhelming and confronting,” Nicole said. “Obviously, this whole ordeal has been an emotional and traumatic experience for Kristal. However, she continues to handle things with courage, bravery and no fuss as usual.” 

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White-tailed spiders are commonly found in gardens and in homes. Source: iStock

Mum-of-five is “no stranger to adversity”

According to Nicole, Kristal is “no stranger to adversity”. 

At 29 years old, Kristal has undergone significant health challenges. She has been living as a Type 1 diabetic since the age of two. 

“Not only has she been battling a life-threatening infection and kidney failure, her diabetes has also required concurrent management and will also need constant management ongoing,” Nicole added. 

At the age of seven, she was diagnosed with Perthes disease of the hip, leaving her “hospitalised, bed-ridden and put into traction for four months”. 

As a result, her legs were placed into broomstick casts for two years, and she had to undergo total hip replacement surgery at 23 years old. 

“Despite these significant health challenges, Kristal never, ever complains,” said Nicole. “She faces these challenges with courage and composure.”

Originally published as Western Sydney mum has leg amputated after white-tailed spider bites her foot