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PLANT PARK HORROR

Schoolboy, 11, left with horrific blisters after getting stung by poisonous Giant Hogweed while playing in park

The toxic weed has been dubbed Britain's most dangerous plant

A YOUNG boy’s leg erupted in agonising blisters after he came into contact with toxic Giant Hogweed while playing in the park.

Adam Hodgson, 11, was rushed to hospital by his horrified mum after the huge blisters erupted on his skin.

Huge painful blisters erupted on Adam Hodgson's skin after coming into contact with the poisonous weed

SWNS:South West News Service
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Huge painful blisters erupted on Adam Hodgson’s skin after coming into contact with the poisonous weed

The young lad was left in absolute agony after mistakenly rubbing leaves of the plant on a nettle sting

SWNS:South West News Service
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The young lad was left in absolute agony after mistakenly rubbing leaves of the plant on a nettle sting

The young lad was playing with a friend in Barrhead, Renfrewshire

SWNS:South West News Service
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The young lad was playing with a friend in Barrhead, Renfrewshire

The young lad rubbed the poisonous plant on his leg after being stung by nettles, thinking it was a dock leaf.

His mum Lorna Percival, 32, said: “It was the worst thing he could have done.

“Things went from bad to worse and he was in a lot of pain.


“When I saw what was happening to his leg I took him to hospital.
“The staff said they had never seen anything like it.”

Adam was playing with a pal at Auchenback Community Park in Barrhead, Renfrewshire.

Little Adam, 11, was rushed to hospital by his mum after his skin broke out in agonising blisters

SWNS:South West News Service
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Little Adam, 11, was rushed to hospital by his mum after his skin broke out in agonising blisters

His mum has now demanded that bosses at East Renfrewshire Council remove the weed – dubbed Britain’s dangerous plant.

Lorna said: “All the council has done is spray the plant with weedkiller, but that could take weeks to work.
“I’m worried it will grow back and continue to be a hazard for kids here.
“I want them to dig it up by the roots and take it away.”

The plant's leaves, flowers, roots and stem all contain highly-toxic components which can burn skin

Getty Images
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The plant’s leaves, flowers, roots and stem all contain highly-toxic components which can burn skin

The incident happened at Auchenback Community Park

SWNS:South West News Service
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The incident happened at Auchenback Community Park

The poisonous weed is common on riverbanks and wasteland, and its leaves, stems, roots and flowers all contain toxic components.

Last summer it landed a Pokemon Go player in hospital after she brushed up against the weed while playing the game in Derby.

And a 10-year-old girl’s skin “melted” after she picked a piece of the toxic plant while building a den in Bristol.

Medics advise anyone who comes into contact with it immediately wash the affected area with hot soapy water.

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “The grass is there to stop children getting close to the water and this has proved successful for a number of years.
“We are scheduled to check and re-spray the area in June and will monitor the area closely this summer.
“This treatment regime has been carried out in this area for several years and has been successful on each occasion of controlling the hogweed.”


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