In January 2025, We (Janet and Peter) were on holiday at Shungwedze Camp in the Kruger Park
Peter’s Account
A long day's travel and simple supper behind Janet and me, it was time for ablutions. I flipped off my flops and stepped into the tent to get my UV light because I enjoy scorpion-hunting in the bark of Shingwedzi's mopanis. I stood for a moment orienting, shifted my feet – and felt an eruption of searing pain. I could not see what I had immediately surmised to be a scorpion. It must have hit me through the tent floor!
The intense pain suggested a 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘥 ... but then I doubted myself. Was it my hypochondria over-dramatising the situation? Nonetheless I decided to assume the worst since it would take half an hour to strike the tent to confirm. I knew that Parabuthus transvaalicus has neurotoxic venom and can be fatal if left untreated.
Terrible signal meant no scorpion information or the Shingwedzi emergency number, so we decided to drive to the office. But we first stopped to ask our neighbours if they had any first aid experience or knowledge. This turned out to be the most fortuitous decision of the night as Steve dropped supper and abandoned his wife and two daughters to accompany Janet and me through the ensuing saga. It turns out he had been hiding his wings the whole time ... as angels usually do.
We soon discovered no-one knew the emergency number but with the commotion, people began to gather .... some to gawk at this whining old man and some who genuinely wanted to help. Like the guy who brought his cleaning bucket and some bags of ice from the restaurant to pack the foot and lower leg. Note: I subsequently learned that ice helps reduce the pain, but hot water is the better remedy as it breaks down the proteins in neurotoxic venom.
The sting hit at about 7:30pm and within five minutes the extreme heat had progressed to the knee, and, of greater concern, had jumped to the glands in my groin. I had begun twitching. Heart rate at this point about 117bpm. (My normal is low 70s and even 60s when mellow.)
By 20:00 we had authorisation from Ranger on duty Micheal, and were on an impromptu night-drive to Phalaborwa, with a huge storm brewing.
I had taken two anti-histamines but at about 21:15 a dry, prickling sensation started around my tonsils and I asked for an Allergex from Janet’s bag of magic tricks. My heart rate had gone down but spiked to about 100 (maybe the drug, maybe my concern at the symptoms?) then dropped again to the low 80s.
Soon the prickling had spread all over, especially on my head and face, including eyes. I did not share this as we were already travelling at speed through a by-now raging storm!
I was so concerned that I sent a WhatsApp to the family group that they could read later if the worst should happen. In the pain and panic I could not think of passwords and financial information that might become necessary, so I just said the most important words and decided that I would NOT let the rest become necessary (as if that was my choice!)
At round 10pm we got to the gate and were (almost) surprised that the guard was expecting us and we passed with minimal admin. Thanks Shadreck! Now with the assistance of Google, we drove right past the 24-hour medical facility because all the lights were off! But upon finding the emergency area a light went on and a friendly nurse appeared. By now I was full-on in intense spasms. She brought a most welcome wheelchair and soon I was in a bed and wired up: blood pressure OK; heart rate 84; saline drip in place.
Not sure what juice they mixed with the drip, but we were told it would stabilise me ... interesting, as my convulsions increased and as my foot warmed the pain level was increasing exponentially.
Janet meanwhile tried to start searching for a place for Steve to spend the night but he would hear nothing of it – he was in it to the finish!
The clinic had no anti-venom so phoned around and a single dose could be located at the government hospital 12km away. Steve was there for us, and off we headed. It was now midnight and after the admin formalities an intern arrived who took phone instruction from a senior doctor, and treatment was administered by nurses who appeared unfamiliar with the medications. However, Novacaine or derivative was injected around the ‘general’ sting site, which was not obvious. I could have sworn it was under the foot but there was nothing obvious to indicate this.
After the agony of this procedure subsided I was perplexed at its relevance since I believe Novacaine has a very localised effect and there appeared to be absolutely no pain relief. 12:20am and heart rate 94.
At 2:30am it was decided that my condition had deteriorated to a point that justified a half dose of antivenom, and they would then monitor my condition. ‘Monitoring’ meant Janet reporting issues noted to them. She was kept from sleep by my ongoing convulsions and mutterings.
At 4:15am we reached a tilting point. Drive back to camp, or wait until 10:00am for the doctor, seriously inconveniencing Steve? As I now seemed stable, with no new symptoms, I decided I would drive us back to camp – a decision laughed off by Steve of course!
Passage through the entry gate was again surprisingly uncomplicated, Steve was reunited with his family and Janet and I opted for an upgrade to a bungalow for a wash and rest.
Around 1:00pm I was fit enough for us to get the tent packed away. We were extremely cautious with the open bags that came out but, as suspected, we found the creepy individual on our groundsheet under the tent. Janet (in shoes fortunately) had unintentionally stomped the poor lad dead shortly after he stung me!
As I write it is 45 hours since the sting. Medically I am pretty sound already but there is still pain and extreme sensitivity in the foot, and half-way up my calf, and occasional convulsions in that leg. No headaches for me – only Janet who had soldiered through the ordeal ensuring my health and care and was now suffering from delayed trauma.
The overwhelming pins and needles sensation is now only inside my mouth and throat when I drink cold water ... I'm hoping that goes away in time for me to enjoy a Slush Puppy by the time we get to Satara tomorrow!
Psychologically I'm too dumb to be traumatised but I think Janet took a lot more strain than I did (and Adara, our daughter in Scotland who was only getting occasional disjointed messages).
Janet’s Account
At the time of the sting within moments Peter wasn't able to stand up straight and told me to get someone who could do CPR. He has had scorpion stings before, and he knew this one was neurotoxic at once.
At Shingwedzi Reception he didn't make it more than a few steps from the car … but there's nothing like a man lying on the ground groaning and writhing to garner up attention. The duty manager called a doctor who told us to wrap his leg in ice (which I had already done, and now added ice from the kitchens) and get him to the nearest hospital.
Steve, one of the campers at Shingwedzi, offered to drive our car through a storm to Phalaborwa. Where in the world does one find such a level of kindness, except amongst fellow campers? My heart was full of gratitude, and would become more so as the long night unfolded.
Steve kept talking to Peter calmly as he navigated the stormy roads, telling us afterwards he was just trying to keep Peter from falling asleep. Times, heart rate ... those details were extremely important to Peter. He repeated them over multiple times during the ordeal. I knew … he was timing how long the toxin took to move from organ to organ. He was going to keep control of his mind at any cost. At some point I became aware that he was shielding me from the truth. We could tell that the pain had spread high when his nose began to stream and he was rubbing his neck glands, and speaking with difficulty. I went cold when he said, "It might be time to give you all the passwords now..."
At some point Peter sent a message to our family group declaring his love for each of us. When I spoke to him about that message later, he confirmed the reality of those fears.
I just prayed, told Peter I loved him ... tried to hold his hand, his leg, any place I could, but I realized that any spot I touched him, seemed to hurt. I felt helpless. So, I watched him suffer... It was the most frightening thing to see. My husband is a strong man and to watch him wrestle with pain, white as a sheet, breathing hard, jerking and shuddering was awful.
When we arrived at the 24 hour hospital Peter was in an extraordinary amount of pain writhing on the bed, not speaking, just groaning. The doctor said the symptoms were "normal" for this 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘷𝘢𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 [South African thick-tail] scorpion and assured me that since my husband had not already died en route, if we maintained the calm heart rate, he kept sipping water, with antivenom he would be fine.
As we arrived at the government hospital with anti-venom were greeted by dozens of battered and broken bodies in a huge waiting room. I can only thank my Father in Heaven for the mercy that was afforded us as we arrived there. An intern found us a bed and we were to wait for the doctor. I knew Peter needed that bed, but I also knew there were a lot of other people out there who wanted a bed too.
By around 1:00am in the morning the doctor had not yet come in to see Peter. In tears I went to find the young doctor as Peter pain had increased substantially, his throat was closing, his body was jumping all over the bed and he was having difficulty swallowing sips of water. I told him that if my husband died that I would hold them accountable and asked how much more of an emergency did they need to attend to us!
The young man used his cellphone to check Peter swelling throat and tongue and within 5 minutes they gave Peter a half dose of anti-venom. They needed to have the rest in stock! I was unbelievably upset, and they left me to monitor him. At 4:00am they said that they would now admit Peter to a different part of the hospital.
At that point Peter opened his eyes and said, "No, I am going home … I can feel it has turned." So, here we are in an air-conditioned bungalow and Peter is full of laughs about the crazy spiky sensations all over... but, it is SO good to have him up and joking again.
Scorpions are very active during this time of the year. The location (Kruger Park, Lowveld, South Africa) is inhabited by high populations of the Transvaal Thick-Tail Scorpion (Parabuthus transvalicus). The scorpion in question was a male.
The time of the sting is very characteristic of scorpion stings in Southern Africa. Early evening, when human and scorpion activity overlap.
Location of the sting is also indicative of a scorpion sting. Many patient are sting when they stand on a scorpion, or when picking up objects where scorpions are sheltering.
In remote areas, just getting the patient to a medical facility can be a challenge. Staying in the Kruger Park means no driving at night without special permission. Quick thinking to contact the section ranger helped immensely. Contacting the gate to let them know of the situation was a great decision.
The supply of SAVP scorpion antivenom is erratic and often in short supply. A standard dose of 2 vials (10ml) of antivenom would have been very beneficial in this case. The 1 vial that was administered was of immense help.
It is not unusual or out of the ordinary for a government hospital not to stock antivenom. It is an expense that governments hospitals cannot aford.
In areas where scorpion stings from high risk species are common, hospital staff are comfortable in the use of antivenom and treatment.
The challenge of this incident included the species of scorpion and location of the patient at the time of the sting.
Stings from a scorpion like this and far away from assistance is never easy to deal with. The urgency of the situation also puts pressure on responders. Janet's account just demonstrates a different perspective to the same situation.
A hugely favourable outcome for the patient. Well done to everyone involved.
I'm on a mission to reduce the burden of spider bites and scorpion stings across Southern Africa!
Public Events | Order Book | Presentations | Activities | Workshops |Professional Development
