Dad-of-two suddenly dies after being 'bitten by venomous spider' he bought online

A dad died suddenly after being bitten by a "venomous" pet spider he had just bought online, claimed his former partner.

Mark Anthony Kirby, 38, from Prescot, Merseyside, died on Saturday, August 2, and his former partner Kayleigh Gill said that he had purchased the spider a few weeks earlier. Kayleigh, the mum of his children, told how he had gone on a trip to Scotland with her, as well as her partner and sister, where he had complained of feeling unwell.

But she did not think he was that sick as he was still "playing pranks" during their meal in Toby Carvery before they drove back home to Prescot on July 26.

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Throughout the following week, Mark complained of flu-like symptoms such as being too hot and too cold, as well as aching limbs. Then on Saturday, August 2, he rang Kayleigh's sister, Kath, who lives on the street over from his flat in Knowsley and complained he was unable to breathe properly.

Kath went round to the flat and called 999 before Mark collapsed. She tried to help him but when paramedics arrived at the scene at around lunchtime, they were unable to save him, reported the Liverpool Echo.

Paying tribute to the dad-of-two, Kayleigh, who she was with for 16 years, she said: "He was funny, caring, outgoing and such a people person. He was a brilliant dad to our two children and was always the life and soul of the party.

"He had bought five spiders online two or three weeks before and was obsessed with him. I think he bought them because he lived alone but he was always terrified of insects when we were together. Even though we had split up, we were best friends. He put our children first."

Kayleigh explained that the post mortem has so far been inconclusive in finding Mark's cause of death but following the week-and-a-half of symptoms, she and his family believe his death is a result of the spider bite. Kayleigh said she is in "complete shock" following his tragic death.

The carer said: "He told me about the bite and I said he needed to go to hospital but he didn't. People shouldn't be able to buy these spiders online, people should need licences to own them." Mark leaves behind his 18-year-old son Nathan-Mark and 17-year-old daughter Kimmy-Louise.