Reptile specialist Warwick Vardy told today how he was minutes from death when a Hairy Desert scorpion stung his hand.

Mr Vardy, 26, a manager at the exotic pet centre at Yarnton Nurseries, has been stung so many times by snakes and scorpions that his immune system has been severely weakened.

When the six-inch long scorpion from Arizona stung him on Monday, his body couldn't take any more. He throat began to swell up and within minutes he collapsed, gasping for breath.

His pal Tony Young took him to his house in Fernhill Road, Begbroke, and called an ambulance. Paramedics saved his life with shots of adrenaline and treating him for anaphylactic shock, before taking him to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. Yesterday (TUES) Mr Vardy revealed that medics told him that he would no longer be able to handle scorpions or spiders because one more bite or sting could kill him.

He said: "Within minutes of being bitten I collapsed and I couldn't breathe. It was frightening and if the ambulancemen hadn't come when they did, I would probably be dead.

"I have been bitten so many times at work that my immunity to arachnid venom has been weak- ened.

"I thought it would be all right to pick up the Hadurus scorpion because it is a non-venomous species but after it stung me I began to feel very unwell."

Mr Vardy has a huge bruise on his leg where he was bitten by a snake three weeks ago and his left hand is now in a sling after being stung.

The latest incident, he said, would not put him off returning to work. "I have been fascinated by reptiles since I was 13 and I hope to be back at work in a fortnight's time."

His wife Sue, 27, who also works at Yarnton Nurseries, added: "I didn't realise how bad the situation was at the time, but now I am very glad Warwick is OK."

Paramedics saved Mr Vardy by using a special radio link to contact the hospital's poison's unit for advice on how to treat him.

A spokesman for Oxfordshire Ambulance Service said: "This man's life was hanging in the balance. He has had a lucky escape."

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