Australian woman’s spider shock: Deadly funnel web found in home

Snakes crawling out of nooks and crannies, rats leaping out of the loo, and enormous spiders lurking in corners—anyone might experience a shock encountering a predator up close. Residents of Australia are more exposed to this than people in any other part of the world.

Australia is renowned for its stunning landscapes, beautiful beaches ideal for surfing, and wonderful wildlife. However, the continent is also home to many animals that no sane person would want to see in their home: crocodiles, scorpions, snakes, and spiders are not desirable housemates.

There is no shortage of stories about brave individuals who were forced by circumstances to face their fears in the form of a gigantic snake or a venomous spider on their own. Such incidents are even heard about in Europe. An example might be a rat invasion in a defenceless elderly lady's bathroom or a snake hiding in celeriac, requiring the intervention of the city guard.

Life in Australia is, however, a whole different level of extremity—a certain woman shared a video where she vacuumed up a huge spider that was hiding between the cushions.

"I live in Australia, and when I was vacuuming my room, I cleaned behind the cushions on the floor. I vacuumed up a funnel web spider, one of the most dangerous spiders in the world. This one is quite large. I cried hysterically for about an hour, and then I didn’t sleep for three days. This is Australia," the woman says in the video, giving a close-up of the spider trapped in the dust and dirt container.

What’s the moral of the story? It’s worth vacuuming thoroughly, even behind the cushions...