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AN ENGLISH MAN is suing airline Qatar Airways after allegedly suffering a flesh-eating spider bite on one of their flights which caused his leg to ‘burst open’.
Jonathon Hogg, a commercial lawyer from London, says he was flying to South Africa from Doha when he felt a sharp pain in his leg and saw a spider scuttling across the floor.
Within days the 40-year-old’s leg resembled “something from a horror film” according to a statement from his lawyers Slater and Gordon, via whom he is suing the airline.
“The pain was like nothing I’ve been through in my life,” Hogg said.
By the time I got to hospital my leg was bursting open, there was pus, it was black. It was a right mess. They told me if I had been any later I would have lost my leg or even died. It was terrifying.
The bite was allegedly delivered by a deadly brown recluse spider during the ten-hour flight on 7 June.
The trip to South Africa was to have seen Hogg, a keen sportsman, embarking on a dream project diving with sharks.
Venom
Upon arriving in South Africa Hogg’s leg began to swell badly, to such an extent that he sought advice as to what was happening.
Those he asked told him to seek medical attention immediately as it looked like he had sustained a spider bite.
He was rushed into surgery where he underwent the first of three operations to save his leg. Subsequently he was told he would have lost his leg, and possibly his life, if he had waited any longer.
Doctors cut away a large area of his leg which had been infected with necrotic venom.
“I knew something was wrong but I had no idea how bad it was until I spoke with the surgeon. When he told me how close I had come to losing my leg I was stunned,” Hogg said.
It really hit home when they removed the bandages and I saw what was left of my leg – it resembled something from a horror film. They had been forced to cut away so much, I was devastated.
However when I realised the extent of my injuries I also realised I was just lucky to still have my leg – even if the sight of it shocked me.
Fear of flying
Hogg spent a month in hospital and underwent a skin graft before he was finally allowed return home. However, further complications ensued.
“When I returned home I was still having problems and went to see a specialist who told me the skin graft hadn’t worked so I would need another operation,” he said.
I’m now waiting to see if it takes.
I now have a real fear of flying and I am in therapy to try and overcome it. The whole thing has been a nightmare.
Richard Duxbury, a lawyer from Slater and Gordon, said that Hogg had suffered “a harrowing experience”.
“Airlines have a responsibility to protect passengers from dangerous potential pests by properly fumigating all planes. We will now be investigating Mr Hogg’s claim to determine if there has been any wrongdoing by the airline,” Duxbury said.
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Fair play to him but Religion should be irrelevant to the Oscars.
Religion is never irrelevant to the religious…more’s the pity.
Circular statements are always irrelevant
I hope he won it because he was good not because he was a muslim.
Saw the movie. He was only in it for half of it. I really like him as an actor, he has been great in some other films. Think this one is a bit politically motivated though. Same as Ruth negga being nominated. Think she was very bland loving to be honest
Seeing an awful lot of negativity towards Ruth Negga. Particularly red thumbs for any positive comments. Whats that all about?
Moronic comment Maurice.
@Charlie Wrex: Overt racism, the alt right don’t believe she’s Irish because her skin isn’t white.
Charlie – Probably because the movie she was in was just a chick flick. She’s still really talented imo
She’s a brutal actress.
Katherine Heigl films are chick flicks, you wouldn’t describe Loving as such.
Being cast as Tulip in Preacher was one of the worst casting decisions ever. Anyone who has read the graphic novels knows this. Id say thats where a lot of the negativity comes from.
Chill out Rochelle. I love Ruth Negga , I think she’s a fantastic actress. It’s just an opinion on a performance. I also think Glen hazards song that won an Oscar was shite. Does that mean I hate gingers….. well actually you might be on to something cause I’m not too fond of them
@Rochelle:
That’s right Rochelle, blame everything on racism. It’s not like that’s been done to death or anything.
@Jason Culligan:
What’s your opinion of Ruth Negga, a fan?
@Rochelle: Get a life instead of looking for shIt that isn’t even there to be offended by!
The irony of it. The original post and others since suggest that a black Muslim may have gotten the Oscar for reasons beyond his ability and performance yet the outrage goes another way.
@Maurice Bourke: most likely that any female Muslim would have gone missing. If she won it.
@Rocheabout we’ll have to find a phrase who uses and incorrectly term about all right.
@Jho Harris: Alt right
He won because he was good and not because he was Muslim. He won for best supporting actor so the criticism
For him being only in half the movie is laughable. Hopkins won for for his lector portrayal and he had like 30 lines and was in the movie for 20mins. Di caprio won last year when he didn’t deserve it. It’s all subjective.
@GOH: He’s a great actor of that there is no doubt but it’s blatantly obvious this was politically motivated. Liberals must have been gutted he didn’t take he bait and go on a Trump bashing rant.
What’s blatantly obvious about it being politically motivated? The movie he was in got ravie reviews. Who should’ve won ahead of him?
@GOH:
If you think this man won the Oscar for any reason other than the current political situation in the United States, you are an imbecile.
We all know you’re an imbecile. You set up a fake twitter account just to cry about an actor you don’t know winning an award in a highly acclaimed movie in which his performance was highly acclaimed. I suggest you save what few brain cells you have left and lay off the glue.
“GOH” off on his fake twitter tangent once again. Boring.
Obviously not that boring if you feel the need to reply. Always makes me laugh how fragile you lads are. Who should of won it ahead of him? It’s all a conspiracy! George soros bribed the academy! Wipe that foam away from your mouth kid.
He won supporting actor see supporting.
That was a great Oscars for diversity! That’s what we should focus on; better diversity and never mind better films….
Why focus on diversity?
Focus on talent.
Wooosh
@Philip King: Because last year there was war when there were no black nominees
Any facts on left handed people winning ?
Saw the movie and thought it no better than above average. His performance was ok but I truly feel the academy are trying to make up for last years black snub fiasco. I know movies just like art, dance, photography, music etc are very subjective but the whole thing is a bit of a joke now. I would place a lot more faith and trust in the smaller festivals.
He was excellent
Oh look the first Muslim to get an oscar only a few weeks after Trump became president. Who’d have tunk it huh?
Who indeed would have “tunk” it…
Were they not all truly historic! Just wait until the first Jedi wins
They wouldn’t give it to an Irish Catholic girl from Ethiopia though would they.
@Emmet O’Keeffe:
Best supporting actor? No, I don’t think so.
Just as well he was in America, if he was a foreigner he wouldn’t have got in to the country to accept his award.
Really enjoyed his character, Remy Danton, in House of Cards, so looking forward to seeing him in Moonlight.
He was absolutely incredible in “House of Cards”. Looking forward to seeing “Moonlight”
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