Woken by Nighttime Choking: The Surprising Culprit Found

Chris Cowsley awoke in the dead of night with a terrifying sensation of choking and was convinced he was on the verge of death. Chris, a mail carrier from England, panicked and called emergency services at 3 a.m., fearing for his life.

In an interview with the BBC, he shared, "I get up, I try to cough, I try all sorts of things, but I can't do anything—my breathing is becoming more restricted. I picked up the phone and dialed 999. The poor woman on the other end of the line—I don't know how she even understood what I was saying," he recounted.

When the paramedics arrived, they hooked Chris up to machines and inspected his mouth. According to Chris, the first thing the paramedic said was that he believed Chris had swallowed a spider, which explained the sudden onset of symptoms while he was asleep..

The medic surmised that the spider had bitten his uvula, causing it to swell and making breathing difficult. Chris was taken to the hospital, where doctors treated him with saline, antibiotics, and steroids..

Chris mentioned that the doctor used a small camera through his nose to confirm the paramedic's theory. After the swelling subsided, Chris was discharged home. He expressed his gratitude to the medical team and promptly purchased an insect repellent spray.