SYDNEY, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A 10-year-old Australian boy have survived this week after bitten by the world's dealest spider, local media said.
Australia's funnel web spider has the most deadly venom in the world and is able to kill in just 15 minutes. The fierce creature is known to hide in the shoes of Aussies, and this is what happened to New South Wales boy Matthew Mitchell, suffering a bite on the finger as he was putting on his sneakers.
After being rushed to hospital, medical staff administered the boy with 12 vials of antivenom, an all time Australian record.
"I've never heard of it, it's incredible! To walk out of hospital a day later with no effects is a testament to the antivenom," Australian Reptile Park general manager, Tim Faulkner told Australian media.
Incredibly, Australia was suffering a shortage of anti-venom just a few months ago and a campaign by the Australian Reptile Park helped bring levels to a more stable threshold.
The park's rangers urged citizens to catch funnel webs in tutorial videos posted online and hand them into facilities where their anti-venom could be used to save the lives of people like Matthew.
The very spider responsible for the bite is now with the reptile park and is participating in its anti-venom milking program.
