In an incident that screams “classic Australia,” a woman recently recounted a spine-chilling discovery she made while cleaning her bedroom.
Let's face it, vacuuming isn't the most exciting household chore - but it's important nonetheless. However, one woman was left with her heart pounding and adrenaline pumping after she found more than a few dust bunnies in her vacuum cleaner.
TikToker @lucetteromy - who shared her harrowing experience on the platform - recalled how a she was left terrified to step foot in her bedroom after vacuuming behind the cushions.
Because after she had finished and taken a look in the dust compartment, the young Australian saw one of the country's most dangerous pests.
Yes, to her horror, she discovered that she had sucked up a massive funnel-web spider.
For those unfamiliar with this creature, it's not just any spider. Funnel-web spiders are among the world's deadliest, with their venomous bite capable of killing a child in a mere 15 minutes, per The Guardian.
@lucetteromy recounted the experience in her TikTok video, saying, "So this is from one day when I was vacuuming my room when I was living in Australia. And I vacuumed behind the cushion that was on my floor, and sucked up a funnel-web spider, which is one of the most deadly spiders in the world.
"This is a pretty big one, it was just in my bedroom. I hysterically cried for about an hour and didn't sleep in my room for three days, so that's on Australia."
Imagine being blissfully unaware, sleeping soundly, only to discover later that one of nature's most lethal arachnids was in close proximity.
@lucetteromy's visceral reaction is captured in the video, where she can be heard exclaiming, "Oh my god this is the most f***ing terrifying thing ever," before frantically wondering what to do next.
In a world where oversized spiders exist, one might wonder if it's time to double-down on household cleaning. But not every spider sighting ends in horror.
Drawing a contrast, there's a tale of a British man who found an enormous spider from Australia in his home.
Despite the initial shock, the man's compassion shone through. Upon learning that the spider would likely be killed if professionals removed it, he canceled the call and instead sought out a friend willing to give the spider a new home.
Credit: Wolfgang Kaehler / Getty
So, while the deadly critters of Australia continue to haunt our nightmares, it's comforting to know there are still some who advocate for a more compassionate approach. But one thing is certain: the next time you pick up your vacuum cleaner, you might be checking the contents a little more closely.