A boy spent four nights in hospital after coming into contact with Britain’s most dangerous plant and must now stay out of the sun for a whole year.
Michael Taylor, 13, was rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and will have to keep his legs out of the sunlight for the next 12 months after he had a brush with the giant grass.
The plant, usually seen between June and August, is one of the most dangerous in the UK. Its sap can cause painful burns and blisters that can recur for months or even years.
Michael’s blisters caused him to miss two weeks of school, while his mother gave a stern warning to other children and parents about the dangers of the phytotoxic plant.
Michael first noticed a rash on his leg on Monday 24 June. Not knowing what the wound was, Fiona Scott treated it with antihistamine tablets and antiseptic cream.
Michael Taylor spent four nights in the hospital and missed two weeks of school after a nasty encounter with a giant plant called Heracleum cicuta.
Michael, 13, has been told to stay out of the sun for a whole year to allow his wounds to heal.
But the next day blisters began to form every 20 minutes, causing Michael great pain.
Heracleum mantegazzianum, also known as Giant Grass, is an invasive species found in Great Britain.
From the same family as wild chervil, it produces white flowers in June and July.
Although it looks impressive, this herb is harmful; its sap can cause photodermatitis or photosensitivity (causing blisters, pigmentation and scarring of the skin) and making it sensitive to sunlight.
Native to southern Russia and Georgia, this herb is now a discovery in many British gardens.
Because of its serious threat, it is a criminal offence to allow it to grow wild in the UK.
Source: RHS
Despite its attractive appearance, the sap of the Heracleum mantis can be harmful.
After initially taking her son to the walk-in centre, Fiona was redirected to A&E at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
In the afternoon Michael was transferred to the children’s ward and on Thursday 27 June he was transferred to the Burns Unit.
They rubbed his legs with cold water and put them under gas and air, after which they put a bandage with honey on the wounds.
Michael remained in hospital for another two days before being allowed to go home with “very strong” antibiotics and strict instructions not to remove his bandages.
He returned to the hospital on Wednesday, July 3 to have his wounds cleaned and treated, and they are only now showing signs of beginning to heal.
However, you will need to keep your legs out of the sun for the next year, as they will be hypersensitive to heat and light.
It has been a difficult experience for the teenager, who usually enjoys playing on his bike near his home in Lemington, as well as in Wylam and Prudhoe.
Fiona said: “It’s been absolutely horrible. Obviously she can’t go out, she can’t socialise with her friends.
“We’ve been in hospital for five days and he’s been in a lot of pain. It’s not nice for a young man like him to have to endure that.”
Michael has been kept awake at night and unable to shower due to the pain caused by the hemlock burns.
However, he does not remember touching the plant, and both he and his mother did not know it was poisonous before his ordeal.
Fiona continued: “We’ve probably all been there and probably never been burned. If we’d known straight away that he’d touched it, we could have scrubbed it down with cold water and Michael’s injuries might not have been as bad.
“But the fact that the plant is out there is so terrifying, I would hate for any child to go through what Michael went through. It’s so surreal, I can’t believe it happened, all his friends are playing and I’m surprised it’s never happened before.”
Michael’s blistered legs were treated with cold water, gas and air, as well as a bandage that included honey.
Heracleum mantis is one of the UK’s most dangerous plants, whose sap can cause painful burns and blisters.
Greater hemlock is an invasive species that ‘escaped domestication’ after being brought to the UK from Central Asia in 1893 as an ornamental plant. It is a relative of greater hemlock and can be identified by its large clusters of umbrella-shaped white flowers.
It has a hollow, rigid stem with purple spots and prefers moist areas such as river banks. The plant can grow from 1.5 m to five metres in height.
What should I do if I come into contact with giant Heracleum?
According to the National Health Service, anyone who comes into contact with the sap of Heracleum cicuta should wash the area immediately and thoroughly with soap and water. Seek medical attention and keep the area out of sunlight for a few days.
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