Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Aditi Rane, Tim Hanlon & Gemma Ryder

Student found dead in shared home with £1 coin-sized wound after spider bite

A university student with a "promising future ahead" was found dead in a shared house after being bitten by a spider several days before.

Harry Bolton, 19, who was in his second year at the University of Hull, started to feel unwell following the incident on October 3 last year, and just four days later security staff at his accommodation found him lying on his back in his bed with his eyes and mouth open.

His housemate had alerted staff after not receiving a response to a text message and when there was no reply to a knock on his door. They knocked down his door and Harry was cold to the touch and not breathing, the Mirror reports.

An inquest heard that paramedics checking Harry over following the discovery noticed a £1 coin-sized gaping wound on his back that appeared to be infected. They confirmed he was not breathing and there was no heartbeat and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Harry had told a friend a spider had bitten him on his back four days earlier and he was not feeling well, who advised him to go to the A&E.

The student went to Hull Royal Infirmary at 9.40pm that night with a high temperature and a high heart rate. A blood sample was taken but nothing of high risk was detected - a CRP Blood test revealed a level of 54, which indicated there was inflammation.

Ben Rayer, an A&E consultant at Hull Royal Infirmary, told the court this was not something that would be flagged up by the labs as a matter of immediate risk and at 1.01am, on October 4, Harry decided to self-discharge.

Harry told a hospital staff member that he would be returning home to bed and would take himself to a walk-in centre the next day. At the time staff had no reason to believe he did not have the capacity to discharge himself and he went back to his student house.

However, the following morning was the last time Harry was seen by his housemates.

The inquest heard how people had reported a spider infestation at the student accommodation on Cottingham Road, managed by Ashcourt Student Housing.

Another housemate, Kacper-Krysztof Zydron, gave evidence in court about a similar bite he had received on his neck in August, 2021.

He said it initially started off "hurting a bit", but over a few days it was so bad that he could not move his neck and he went to A&E were he was told to take some paracetamol.

Hull Royal Infirmary (Pa)

It allegedly did not work and having told his parents about it, they helped him remove pus from the infection. Kacper said that helped relieve the pain and he then called his GP who gave him antibiotics which cleared the infection.

The housemate complained to about a problem and an inspection was carried out by the maintenance team who found no infestation. A clause in the tenancy agreement also stated that low-level pest intrusions were the responsibility of tenants.

After Harry's death, pest control was called for the peace of mind of the tenants and a survey was carried out. Sticky traps were laid out and it was found that there was a normal number of insects in the house given the time of the year.

Coroner Paul Marks determined that Mr Bolton's death was caused by sepsis, due to an acute chest infection caused by an infected wound on his back.

He said: "Had he not been bitten by an invertebrate, possibly a spider, he would not have died at that time. It is an incredibly unfortunate case. He had a promising future ahead of him."

After his death, a JustGiving fundraising site raised more than £1,600 in Harry's memory for Eczema Research.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

READ MORE:

Follow Daily Record

FacebookTwitter

Lynx Limited Edition gift set – click and collect for free at Superdrug!Superdrug|

Sponsored

Shop NowThe perfect Christmas present for him – Lynx 5 days 5 body sprays!Superdrug|

Sponsored

Shop NowSunak planning £40bn windfall tax grab - reportsIW|

Sponsored

Read More40 Dated Decor Trends That Scream 'Senior'Housediver|

Sponsored

UK: Here Are 20 of the Coolest Gifts for 202220 hottest cool gadgets you'll regret not getting before they sell out in the UKTop Gadgets|

Sponsored

Shop NowBlack Friday: take a look at this outside pent shed at a special pricePent Garden Sheds | Search Ads|

Sponsored

Click HereTeacher struck off register after having sex with former pupil in hotel roomDaily RecordGraeme Souness Japan World Cup goal blast takes fresh twist as Rangers hero gets his wish from FIFADoctors Amazed: A Simple Tip Against Toenail Fungus (Test Tonight)Fungus Helper|

Sponsored

Remember Jasper Carrott? This Is How He's Living NowRethink Style|

Sponsored

Read More5 Eyelash Tips For Mature Women!Prime Prometics|

Sponsored

Learn MoreDPD driver found dead in van after 'working 14 hour shifts' before Black FridayDaily RecordParamedic who treated dying teen at car crash realised victim was own daughterDaily RecordLight up the holidays with Ooni Pizza Ovens - order now in time for Christmas.Ooni Pizza Ovens|

Sponsored

Learn More(Photo) Phil Foden's Wife Is Probably The Most Beautiful Woman In The WorldDads news|

Sponsored

'Easiest car purchase ever!' – why customer reviews are full of praise for this online motor martIf you want to know where you should buy your next car from, you only have to look at cinch's customer reviews…|

Sponsored

If Your Dog Is Over 7, Do This Every NightYour Pet Nutrition|

Sponsored

MORE ON

138414325219

MOST READ

1

Ex-Celtic star Leigh Griffiths arrested after raid at his home amidst sports gambling probe

2

Scots teacher resigns after explicit Only Fans images circulate among pupils

3

Chilling CCTV shows moment drunk Scots teen murdered stranger on birthday night out

4

Scots Only Fans teacher is sent supportive messages from pupils who want her back at work

5

Over 130,000 call for Tory peer Michelle Mone to be booted from Lords and repay £29m of taxpayer cash

RECOMMENDED

Ex-Celtic star Leigh Griffiths arrested after raid at his home

El Hadji Diouf reignites Steven Gerrard feud with loaded Lampard claim

Scots Only Fans teacher is sent messages from pupils who want her back at work

Graeme Souness gets his wish as fresh Japan winner angle emerges

RELATED ARTICLES

Powered by

Suspect charged over 'murder bid' on Scots street which saw 'man run down by car'


Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.