Holidaymakers heading to Spain have been warned to keep a watchful eye on their luggage whilst unpacking.
The caution comes after a woman who had been staying in a hotel in Alcorcón, Madrid, was bitten by a rogue scorpion that had found its way until her suitcase.
It is believed the insect, which is now suspected to be dead, had escaped from her luggage whilst she unpacked.
The scorpion, which was was eventually captured by the police, caused the woman to have an allergic reaction after biting her, resulting in a critical trip to the hospital for treatment.
Taking to X, local police announced: ‘Call from a hotel in the city reporting that a guest had been stung by a scorpion.
‘The result was positive, and we took the woman to the hospital to assess whether any treatment is necessary. It is suspected that the animal may have previously been in the luggage.’
Police noted that the incident, which occurred on 26 September, was ‘unusual’ as scorpions are generally not native to urban Spain, though the most common species found in the south is the Spanish Yellow Scorpion.
While the insect was taken away for analysis, the woman was assessed by health workers at the emergency department for appropriate treatment.
Holidaymakers heading to Spain have been warned to keep a watchful eye on their luggage whilst unpacking after a woman staying in a hotel in Alcorcón, Madrid, was bitten by a rogue scorpion (pictured)
Police explained that ‘it is suspected that the poisonous animal could have previously been introduced into the client’s own luggage,’ since it is rare for this type of species to appear in metropolitan areas.
The woman’s nationality has not yet been disclosed, nor the country from which she had travelled to from Spain.
However, police are advising travellers to double-check their luggage as a matter of routine as other creepy crawlies, including spiders, have been known to find their way into suitcases.
If holidaymakers discover they have been stung or bitten by a scorpion, they could experience a range of symptoms that depend on the species, including intense pain, inflammation, fever, sweating, vomiting or even difficulty breathing.
Though species in Europe usually do not inject fatal venom, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention after a sting, as this can ensure any potential complications are treated accordingly.
It comes after a mother was left fighting for her life after plummeting down hotel stairs and hitting her head – when an infection from mosquito bites made her faint.
Emma Hickey and her partner Stephen Brougham took their two children to Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Spain, on June 13th for a sun-soaked 12-day getaway.
But just 10 days into the trip, the mother-of-two woke up with a ‘really bad case’ of mosquito bites so went to hospital and was prescribed injections.
Police explained that ‘it is suspected that the poisonous animal could have previously been introduced into the client’s own luggage,’ since it is rare for this type of species to appear in metropolitan areas (stock image)
Despite feeling unwell for the next few days the 42-year-old carer ‘soldiered through the holiday’ for the sake of her family.
But as they walked down the hotel staircase on their way to a pharmacy on June 23, Ms Hickey complained of feeling dizzy before suddenly collapsing and falling head-first onto a concrete step.
Mr Brougham, 44, says it was ‘horrific’ to watch his partner convulsing on the concrete steps after passing out and she was immediately rushed to hospital.
A hospital CT scan revealed she had a brain bleed and neck fractures so she was put in an induced coma.
#Holidaymakers #urged #check #hotel #rooms #woman #stung #SCORPION
