A DAD died after reportedly being bitten by his own pet spider he had bought just weeks before his death.

Mark Anthony Kirby, 38, from Prescot, Merseyside, is understood to have been wounded by the spider shortly after purchasing it.

His family have now shared their heartache after Mark died just a week later on August 2.

Kayleigh Gill, Mark’s ex-partner of 16 years, explained she thought he had become obsessed with spiders as he was living alone.

However, after one of the spiders bit Mark, Kayleigh said, the dad began to experience a number of flu-like symptoms.

Just days after being bitten, Mark travelled to Scotland with Kayleigh, her partner, and her sister, for a night away.

During this trip, however, he began to complain of feeling ill, despite still “playing pranks” during the group’s meal at a Toby Carvery before their drive home to Prescot on July 26.

Then, throughout the following week, Mark complained of a number of symptoms, including feeling too hot or too cold and having aching limbs.

On August 2, he rang Kayleigh’s sister Kath – who lives on the street over from his flat in Knowsley – complaining he was unable to breathe properly.

After she went round to his home, she called 999 just before Mark collapsed.

Despite running to his aid, and paramedics rushing to the scene, Mark tragically died.

Paying tribute to the dad-of-two, Kayleigh told the Liverpool Echo: “He was funny, caring, outgoing and such a people person. He was a brilliant dad to our two children and was always the life and soul of the party.

“He had bought five spiders online two or three weeks before and was obsessed with them.

“I think he bought them because he lived alone but he was always terrified of insects when we were together. Even though we had split up, we were best friends. He put our children first.”

It is not known which species of spider Mark owned.