GOLF legend John Daly needed mouth-to-mouth and an emergency operation after being bitten by a deadly brown recluse spider while on holiday in England.
Daly, 53, who is known as the Wild Thing, was treated for early-stage sepsis - the primary cause of death from infection around the world - after contracting a "major infection" in his abdomen.
He said that although he was in serious pain he was just "glad to be alive" after the terrifying episode with the flesh-eating arachnid.
The 1995 Open champion and big smoker detailed the horror of his near miss in a tweet, and said the photo of his injury was "too graphic" to show.
Daly wrote: "My life chapter 84k: Craziest event! Was in England last week and incurred a spider bite, not really knowing it.
"Fast forward to Friday, mouth/mouth, compressions and unknowingly now in an ambulance rushed to ER all while on family vacation and straight into surgery!
"Removing what developed into a major infection in my abdominal area and treated for early sepsis all from a brown recluse!
"My caddie has now named me #SpiderPro #photoistoographic #GladtobeAlive #InSomeSeriousPain."
On Facebook he added: "Not just knee pain now but abdominal pain. But prayers to the big man above I'm alive. Spiders are NO JOKE!"
Daly was not aware of the bite until he landed back in his native US.
It was then that he was rushed to Uniontown hospital in Pennsylvania for treatment.
A brown recluse spider, also known as a violin spider, can leave a venomous bite that produces an ulcer.
They can hide in clothes but also like to live inside furniture or cardboard boxes.
This is just the latest in a long line of health scares for the two-time Major champion, who remains a huge fan favourite for his wild lifestyle.
In early 2009 Daly - who will not play in next week's Open after being denied the use of a buggy he needed for his dodgy knee - had gastric band surgery to limit how much he eats after his weight ballooned.
The year before Daly's mug shot was released by police after he was found drunk outside a Hooters restaurant in North Carolina.
In March of 2008 his coach Butch Harmon quit after saying "the most important thing in his [Daly's life] is getting drunk".
Daly's turbulent private life has seen him go through four marriages and he claims to have lost around 40million gambling.