Here’s a story that doesn’t make sense: British people are being sent to the hospital in surprisingly large numbers for…crocodile bites. And this is a people who come from a country that absolutely does not have any crocodiles in its waters. Not only do they not have crocodiles, but most of the country’s most dangerous animals, like bears and wolves, were killed off years ago.
What’s going on?
At a glance:
- Nearly 30,000 Brits were hospitalized due to animal attacks in 2023-24, with over 10,000 classified as emergency cases.
- Dogs were the leading culprits, with nearly 11,000 incidents, while exotic animals like crocodiles, scorpions, and fish also contributed.
- Non-venomous insect bites and stings accounted for over 6,000 cases, while incidents involving marine animals were particularly dangerous, with over half classified as emergencies.
NHS data has revealed an intriguing and somewhat surprising look into animal-related hospitalizations in England during the 2023-24 financial year, with nearly 30,000 Brits seeking medical care due to encounters with both common and exotic creatures. Of those, over 10,000 were emergency cases, requiring urgent attention to save life or limb.
As expected, dogs were the biggest offenders, with nearly 11,000 recorded incidents. This figure includes both bites and “strikes,” where a dog knocks someone over. Alarmingly, almost 4,000 of these cases were classified as emergencies, highlighting the severity of many dog attacks.
However, it’s not just man’s best friend causing havoc. Non-venomous insects, including spiders, ticks, and beetles, accounted for over 6,000 hospital visits, half of which were emergencies. Though these creatures may seem less dangerous, allergic reactions can turn a minor bite or sting into a serious medical issue.
Interestingly, some Brits had more unusual encounters. Seven people were admitted to hospitals after being attacked by crocodiles or alligators, one of which was an emergency case. While no crocodilian species are native to the UK, these incidents likely occurred in zoos or wildlife parks.
Other rare incidents involved scorpions, venomous centipedes, and even marine creatures such as fish, jellyfish, and sharks. Encounters with marine animals proved particularly dangerous, with over half of the 100 recorded cases classified as emergencies.
The NHS data also highlighted some quirky and rare reasons for hospital admissions, including 91 cases related to eating toxic mushrooms, 14 lightning strikes, and four incidents involving volcanic eruptions. Though these cases are rare, they reflect the wide range of dangers Brits faced last year.
Crazy, right?
