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& #39;ve got an ear infection maybe where the spider bit or scratched me...

And it& #39;s the first time, I& #39;ve ever heard a triage nurse at A&E scream.