Mother Collapses And Dies After Pet Bite In Front Of Her Children

The mother of two died after being bitten by a hamster in front of the medical center.

Filip

• Published in News
• October 19, 2024

Life is an unpredictable journey full of twists and turns that take us down paths we never imagined. While in one moment, everything may seem planned, stable, and predictable, in the next, everything can change.

Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. But the certain thing is that no one can know which way it might go.

Unexpected opportunities or challenges can arise, changing our carefully laid plans. Illness, accidents, new love, or sudden changes in circumstances remind us that control is nothing else but an illusion.

Recently, the unpredictability of life hit a family and caused them a great loss. A mother tragically passed away on her way to the hospital after suffering a bite from a pet hamster.

The mother, a 38-year-old woman, was bitten by her children's hamster, suddenly collapsed and died. Reports indicate that the mother of two lost consciousness while she was in front of a health center near her residence in Spain.

To make this tragic event even worse, she was accompanied by her two children, aged 17 and 11. Although her identity has not been disclosed by local media, it is believed that the woman was a Colombian national residing in Villarreal, a coastal city on Spain's eastern shore, north of Valencia.

The mother died after being bitten by a pet hamster

According to the local newspaper, the woman was on her way to seek medical treatment for the hamster bite when she collapsed around 10:30 p.m. on October 11. In a tragic twist, she is said to have fallen just a few feet from the entrance of the medical center.

Medical staff immediately rushed outside to try to resuscitate her, but despite their efforts, they were unable to save her life. The area was soon cordoned off by police before her body was taken away for further examination.

An autopsy has been scheduled in an attempt to determine if the hamster bite played any role in her death or if other factors contributed. In Spain, autopsy results are typically not made public, but a local court is currently overseeing an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of her death.

Severe allergic reactions to animals, including rodents like hamsters, are uncommon but have been documented in the past

Although rare, diseases such as rabies or bacterial infections can be transmitted from hamsters to humans through bites. However, it remains uncertain whether this was the cause in this particular case.

Severe allergic reactions to animals, including rodents like hamsters, are uncommon but have been documented in the past. In 2007, a man from Evesham, UK, suffered an anaphylactic shock after being bitten by a hamster and needed immediate hospitalization in Redditch, Worcestershire.

This incident highlighted just how unpredictable such allergic reactions can be. Paramedic Stuart Philip, who was at the scene, described the situation as an unfortunate but rare occurrence, noting that the man was ultimately lucky to have survived.

He said: “It was a highly unusual situation. We got the initial call to an allergic reaction but we didn't realize it was from a hamster until we got there."

He continued, “People react in different ways to different chemicals. It's hard to say why this man reacted in this way. It's just a case of a particular hamster and a particular man – it's very unlucky."

This case serves as a reminder of the unexpected and potentially dangerous reactions that some individuals can have to even seemingly minor incidents, such as a small animal bite.

"Hamsters don’t normally carry any diseases that would affect humans"

The West Midlands Ambulance Service commented at the time: "The man suffered a serious and severe reaction to the bite."

They emphasized, "If you have been identified as someone who can have severe reactions it is vital that you and your family know what to do." It was noted that the man's swift actions in administering medication to himself likely played a crucial role in his recovery, demonstrating the importance of having the knowledge and means to respond promptly in such emergencies.

Wendy Barry, who was the secretary of the British Hamster Association at the time, expressed her surprise at the incident. She said: "I have kept hamsters for 20 years and I’ve never heard of this scenario in this country."

She further elaborated, "Someone’s immune system would have to be very, very compromised for there to be such drastic consequences." Barry reassured that hamsters typically do not carry diseases that could harm humans: "Hamsters don’t normally carry any diseases that would affect humans.

In fact, there is more chance of a hamster catching something from a human."

This incident underscores how rare severe allergic reactions can be, particularly when involving small animals like hamsters, and how critical it is to be prepared if one is exposed to severe allergies. Unfortunately, this incident left two kids without their mother.

But, as we said in the beginning, life is truly unpredictable.

Filip