A woman has spoken out about the excruciating pain she experienced after coming into contact with a dangerous invasive plant species while picking blackberries.
Sue Harris, from Swansea, was left with blisters running the length of her arm and has been warned by her GP that she will need to cover her arm in the sun for the next four months, and increase her sun protection for the next five years to prevent the blisters and rash from returning.
Ms Harris, 55, was gathering blackberries in Mayals, Swansea, when she touched Hogweed, a plant known for its long-lasting effects on those who come into contact with it.
The plant, scientifically named Heracleum sphondylium, is commonly found along hedgerows, roadside verges and rough grassland. It can commonly crop up in many gardens and is one of the plant species that gardeners are urged to pull up immediately.
The sap, stems, leaves and fruits of the plant are all toxic. The sap can cause severe burns on the skin, making it hypersensitive to sunlight and leading to extreme blistering.
This blistering can recur repeatedly for months or even years after initial contact.
Just two hours after Ms Harris returned home from her blackberry picking trip in Mayals, she noticed a small rash on her arm. It rapidly worsened overnight, spreading up her arm, onto her back and causing intense pain , she shared with Wales Online.
She sought help from her local chemist and was given medication for the rash, but remained in “agony”.
Her GP warned her that if she had ingested the blackberries, her airways could have closed up as the plant can cause injuries akin to third-degree burns.
Ms Harris has been advised by her doctor to take extra precautions when exposed to sunlight, including wearing SPF50 or a rash vest for the next four to five years to prevent the blisters and rash from reoccurring.
Two weeks on, her painful rash persists and could last for another six months. She said: “Even now, my arm is burning, literally burning. I didn’t feel anything at the time, I must have just brushed past it.
“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.
“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.”
