House spider almost killed me, says woman But during the next two days, her arm began to swell and throb. The civil servant, 31, went to a clinic and was told she had most likely been bitten by a spider and was given antibiotics and paracetemol to take. But two days later she began vomiting and struggling to stand, so her husband Michael, 35, called an ambulance. Doctors told her her muscles and nerves were dying and turning septic. They gave her more antibiotics but she was told she may still have to have her arm amputated. In the end surgeons managed to remove the infected tissue and rebuild the limb with flesh from her thigh. After three weeks in hospital, followed by physiotherapy, Ms Hemme was able to return to work. She told The Sun: "It was agony. I was lucky to survive. You'd expect it in Australia but not in Surrey. I was in such pain when they told me I needed my arm amputated that I didn't even care. It was agony and I know I have been very lucky to survive and keep my arm. I can't believe all this happened over a spider bite. I honestly thought I was going to die.