Backpacker shares shock allergic reaction to fruit during farm work

A Newcastle man travelling around Australia has shared the awful thing that happened to his face while working on a mango farm.

An Aussie bloke has gone viral after he shared a video of the horror reaction he had picking mangoes at a farm in Darwin.

Brendan Small, 26, from Newcastle was backpacking with a friend along the Queensland coast in June when they decided to head to the Northern Territory after borders closed in their hometown.

The duo were hopping from place-to-place after nabbing Jetstar deals and ended up docking in Darwin where there were “more freedoms”.

“We thought we may as well stay here and do it on the cheap,” Brendan told news.com.au.

“We stayed in hostels and lived off spag bol and butter chicken – we’re simple people,” he joked.

Brendan Small, 26, from Newcastle, was backpacking in Queensland and the Northern Territory with a friend. Picture: TikTok/brendansmall6

But after running out of money, Brendan, a disability support worker, was on the hunt for casual work to tide him over.

He came across an advert for mango picking at a farm an hour from Darwin, in Humpty Doo.

“It was paying $26 an hour for 10-hour days and I thought it would be good as I won’t be spending any money while I lived on the farm,” he said.

While he stayed put on the farm, his friend, a project manager, was able to work remotely and headed for Alice Springs.

But just a few days into his new job, Brendan noticed something different about his face.

“I was picking for 11 days and then sh*t hit the fan,” he said.

When their hometown of Newcastle closed its borders, the duo decided to stay in Darwin where there were ‘more freedoms’. Picture: TikTok/brendansmall6

But after running out of cash, Brendan (pictured) decided to take up work on a farm picking mangoes. Picture: TikTok/brendansmall6

“It was a Sunday after I finished work one day when I had a shower and noticed I looked like I had been in a fight.

“The next morning I woke up, looked in the mirror and said, ‘I am in a bit of trouble here.’”

Brendan ended up getting an allergic reaction to mangoes, known as mango dermatitis, which caused his entire face to swell, develop rashes and itchiness.

“I couldn’t see out of my eyes, so one of the backpackers who worked with me ended up driving me to the hospital,” he said.

Brendan was given steroids before being discharged from the hospital.

“I was wearing gloves and had a long-sleeve shirt on too. I have never been allergic to anything before so I am not sure what happened.

“From what the (doctors) told me, it’s pretty common up here.”

He ended up getting a mango dermatitis – a bad allergic reaction causing his entire face to swell. Picture: TikTok/brendansmall6

He shared a video of himself from a hospital bed to TikTok – which has now gone viral. Picture: TikTok/brendansmall6

Brendan said he decided to upload a video to TikTok about his experience for a bit of a laugh.

“I thought it would get some views,” he said, not realising it would end up going viral with over 14,000 ‘likes’ and 116,000 views.

“Pick mangoes they said, it’ll be fun they said,” Brendan captioned the video.

It shows snippets of him enjoying his time on the farm before it changes to footage of in laying on a hospital bed with a very swollen face.

“Damnnn bro,” one person commented.

“I’m sorry but I laughed out loud, how unlucky can you be! I’m sorry,” said another, to which Brendan responded: “Don’t be sorry you gotta have a laugh.”

The swelling to Brenda’s face has since gone gown. Picture: TikTok/brendansmall6

But he still has some itchy rashes on his legs and arms. Picture: TikTok/brendansmall6

Others also shared similar experiences.

“Did the same thing mate … speedy recovery,” one man wrote.

“OMG finally another human with the same reaction to mangoes as me,” said another TikTok user.

According to a report in the National Institute of Health, mango dermatitis’ is the common term given to allergic contact dermatitis to the sap or skin of the fruit of mango.

Brendan said that while the swelling to his face was now gone, he still had some itchy rashes on his legs and arms and will head back to the doctor if it persists.

As for his farming experience?

“It wasn’t too bad to be honest – the days were long, but it was OK,” he said.

And after all that, he managed to pocket $2000 in 10 days.

“It was perfect for what it was.”

Brendan has since reunited with his mate where the duo are currently en route back home to Newcastle.

Safe to say, he won’t be rushing to take up a mango picking job anytime soon.