Sue Harris, 55, was picking blackberries in Mayals, Swansea, when she came into contact Hogweed, which has left her in agonising pain and can impact people for years after touching it
A woman has shared her agonising experience and urged people to be vigilant after coming into contact with a toxic plant while picking blackberries.
Sue Harris, from Swansea, suffered blisters running the length of her arm and was advised by her GP to shield her arm from sunlight for the next four months. She was also warned to enhance her sun protection for the following five years to prevent the recurrence of the blisters and rash.
Ms Harris, 55, was gathering blackberries in Mayals, Swansea, when she inadvertently touched Hogweed, a plant known for its long-lasting harmful effects on those who come into contact with it. It comes after ‘UK’s most dangerous plant’ leaves toddler in A&E with second-degree burns
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Hogweed, scientifically referred to as Heracleum sphondylium, is a common plant found along hedgerows, roadside verges, and rough grassland. The plant’s sap, stems, leaves, and fruits are toxic. The sap can cause severe, painful burns on the skin, making it hypersensitive to sunlight and prone to blistering under sun exposure, reports Wales Online.
This blistering can recur repeatedly for months or even years after initial contact.
Just two hours after returning home from her blackberry-picking excursion in Mayals, Ms Harris noticed a small rash on her arm. It rapidly worsened overnight, spreading up her arm, onto her back, and causing intense pain.
After suffering a severe rash, Ms Harris sought help at her local pharmacy and received medication, but the pain escalated to “agony”. Her GP later warned that consuming the blackberries could have led to a life-threatening reaction, as the plant is capable of causing damage akin to third-degree burns.
Ms Harris has been advised by her doctor to take stringent protective measures against the sun, including using SPF50 or wearing a rash vest for the next four to five years to prevent the blisters and rash from reoccurring.
Now two weeks on, she still endures a painful rash that may persist for up to six more months. She recounted: “Even now, my arm is burning, literally burning. I didn’t feel anything at the time, I must have just brushed past it.”
She continued, detailing her ordeal: “I went to my doctor a week later because I’ve been in and I honestly mean it, I’ve been in agony with it.”
Ms Harris is eager to raise awareness about the plant’s toxicity, saying: “I just want people to know about it because I never knew it was toxic and I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through this.”