A MAN is recovering today after suffering a severe anaphylactic reaction to being bitten by a hamster.

The man - who has not been named - was at home in a village east of Evesham when he was bitten.

He was trying to rescue the hamster from under the floorboards.

It had apparently got there after the man's seven-year-old daughter accidentally let it out of its cage.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at about 10.25pm on Monday to reports of a 50-year-old man with serious breathing difficulties.

An ambulance and a rapid response car were sent to the scene. Paramedic Wayne Davies said: "The man was in a semi-conscious state when we arrived.

"His family told us he had other allergies and had already administered himself some drugs but these had had little effect. After assessing his condition we gave him further drugs to combat the anaphylaxis and these had the desired effect and he began to recover.

"We took him to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, but were sufficiently concerned about his condition that we took another paramedic on the back of the ambulance in case the man's condition deteriorated.

"Thankfully, by the time he was in hospital he was able to sit up normally but this was clearly a very severe reaction."

An ambulance service spokesman added: "If you have been identified as someone who can have severe reactions it is vital that you and your family know what to do.

"The man's actions in administering drugs to himself may well have played an important part in his recovery."

The man declined to speak to the Worcester News.