I went wild swimming in Devon last week on my birthday. Afterwards, my ear was a bit clogged with water. Next day felt v sick, which I put down to birthday campfire rum. 3 days later I still had nausea & my ear ached. We went on a hilly car trip, altering pressure in my ears..

My ear started banging, cracking, whistling, & a feeling I can only describe as rustling. I stopped being able to communicate with anyone. The nausea was horrendous. I got out of the car spinning, grabbing at my ear... At this point I felt something emerging from it...

I assumed at first it was wax. But no. It was moving, and its legs were still kicking. It was a spider. Not a small spider but a medium, thick-bodied spider. The nausea immediately lifted and I felt fine, except for being a bit traumatised, along with all my companions...

A week later, I still feel terrible. The nausea came back and I had to go to A&E to "check for eggs & legs". No-one wants to hear that sentence with regards to their ear. Happily, neither were present. But I've got an ear infection maybe where the spider bit or scratched me...

And it's the first time, I've ever heard a triage nurse at A&E scream.