An eight-year-old boy from Vichuloma, Oruro Department in Bolivia, attempted to gain superpowers like his idol, Spider-Man, by provoking a potentially lethal black widow spider into biting him.
As the kid played near a river, he came upon the venomous spider, known for its potent bite, around 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake’s venom. Ignoring the risks, he dared to recreate the fateful moment of Peter Parker’s transformation, but things took a dangerous turn.
Spider-Man Aspirations
Inspired by the fictional web-slinger, the boy’s curiosity got the better of him. With misguided determination, he picked up the black widow, placed it on his hand, and coaxed it into biting him. As expected, the venomous creature obliged, leaving its mark on the young adventurer.
Ernesto Vásquez, head of the Zoonotic Diseases Programme for the Departmental Health Service of Oruro, explained,
“The child, without calculating the risks, picked it up and, according to him, put it on the back of his hand where the arachnid made the respective bite.”
As reality set in, the boy began to experience aches and severe muscle contractures. Fearful of admitting his dangerous escapade to his parents, he kept his secret until his condition started to worsen. Concerned about their child’s health, his mother eventually persuaded him to confess.
Without delay, he was rushed to the hospital, where medical professionals administered an antidote to counteract the poison and stabilize his condition. Thankfully, the specific antidote proved effective in neutralizing the venom’s toxicity.
The Child’s Confession
Upon recovering from the ordeal, the young Spider-Man aspirant finally admitted his motive behind the daring act. When asked about the bite, he disclosed,
“I wanted to become Spider-Man.”
This revelation left health authorities worried about the recurring trend of children attempting to emulate their superhero idol’s powers through dangerous stunts.
The boy’s mother claimed that her son was a huge Spider-Man enthusiast who loved watching the films. Despite the terrifying event, she hoped it wouldn’t weaken his admiration for the imaginary web-slinger.
Oddly enough, this wasn’t the first time such an incident occurred in Bolivia. In a similar case back in 2020, three brothers aged between eight and 12 found a black widow while collecting wood. Inspired by the same hero, they too provoked the spider into biting them.
Consequently, they fell ill, and their concerned parents rushed them to the hospital for treatment. Fortunately, prompt medical attention ensured their full recovery after a five-day stay.
