Man died from ruptured oesophagus, not spider bite

A man whose death was reported by his family to be linked to a spider bite in fact died from a ruptured oesophagus, an inquest heard.

Following the death of John Francis Kennedy, aged 48, of Avoncore Place, Midleton, Co Cork, his widow had told how he became unwell and died last summer as a result of a venomous spider bite.

However, pathologist Nollaig Parfrey yesterday told Cork City Coroners Court that he died from a ruptured oesophagus, ag-ainst a background of bleeding veins, secondary to alcohol cirrhosis.