'I got bitten by bed bugs and the pain is unbearable - it got worse every day'
A British builder claims he suffered a horrifying reaction to bedbugs while on holiday in France. Cory Gardner, 26, says he was bitten on a two-centre trip to Paris and Lyon. He went away with partner Olivia Wood, 25, in September and returned without incident.
However, days after arriving back at home in Bridgend he started itching all over. Cory went to see his GP, who said that he was suffering with chickenpox. But he wanted a second opinion, so spent £300 on a private consultation on London's Harley Street.
According to Cory, the consultant told him the bites were from bedbugs. Pictures show the extent of his injuries, with his body covered in red marks.
Cory Gardner claims he had severe reaction to bedbug bites after being bitten on holiday in France (Cory Gardner / SWNS)Cory said: "It was absolutely unbearable. I was itching all over my body. It got worse every day - there were big red marks like a massive rash and it itched all the time. And I got flu-like symptoms. Like I was hot and cold with fever."
"It's very uncomfortable and irritable and I haven't been able to go out. I barely slept for two weeks. That's horrible and made me feel so sick. This has definitely put me off sleeping in other beds and I wouldn’t go to France again."
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Cory went to Harley Street last month. His rash, although less severe, is still there. Partner Olivia was also bitten did not react as badly.
Paris was said to have seen a huge surge in bedbugs at the start of October, and pest control firms are being inundated with calls about bed bugs in the UK following an infestation in France.
The nasties are on the rise, with data released by Rentokil last month finding there had been a 65% increase in infestations from 2022 to 2023. Paris has seen a bed bug-related panic, with plagues of the insects being reported in schools, hospitals and cinemas.
Bedbugs are wingless, oval-shaped, and are usually about 6mm long and flat in appearance. They are pale brown in colour when not eating, but turn a reddish brown colour when fully fed on blood.
One of the strongest signs of a bedbug infestation is an unusual odour with no other obvious cause. This is often described as a musty, sweet smell. Other signs that there bedbugs in a room include dark blood stains on sheets and bedding, as well as poo from the insects, which look like small brown spots.
Hotel rooms and other forms of shared accommodation can be hotspots, and might want to be especially vigilant if you're staying in an area known to have a problem. In a video that recently went viral on TikTok, a hospitality expert recommended keeping the lights switched off and using the torch on your phone to look under and around the bed for the nocturnal bugs.
Though there are checks you can do, most people realise they have been around bedbugs when they discover itchy, irritated skin from bites.
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