Sydney family’s frantic dash to save toddler bitten by funnel web spider lurking in Christmas tree

Sydney mother Emma Sheil has urged parents to be aware of deadly spiders, after her son stopped breathing when he was bitten in their Picton home on Tuesday.

She had walked into her lounge room and saw her two-year-old son Tommy holding a funnel web spider — which she believes hitched a ride inside on the plastic Christmas tree recently brought in from the family’s shed — in his hand.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Picton toddler almost dies after being bitten by a funnel web spider.

Sheil thought the spider was a toy until she heard Tommy scream.

Soon after, he began to vomit and experience seizures, 7NEWS understands.

“Tommy’s symptoms started almost immediately and escalated quickly,” Sheil said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Bundling Tommy into the car, with the spider in a cup covered with a Christmas card, they rushed towards the hospital — but on the way it became clear they were not going to make it.

They had been in the car for about 10 minutes, when “Tommy started choking and became unresponsive,” Sheil said in a Facebook post warning other parents on Sunday.

“We realised we needed to call Triple-0 for an ambulance.

“The ambulance arrived quickly, and we were rushed to Campbelltown Hospital, where we spent two hours in resuscitation.

“Tommy had a breathing tube inserted, was placed into an induced coma, and given both seizure medication and anti-venom.”

The young boy was then transferred to the Sydney Children’s Hospital PICU where he remained for three days.

Now back at home in time for Christmas, Tommy is expected to make a full recovery.

But Sheil said it “could have turned out very differently”.

“We are so thankful we acted quickly ... we are counting our lucky stars.

“A new fear has definitely been unlocked for us, but we’re just so grateful Tommy is okay and back to his cheeky self.”

Following the frightening ordeal, Tommy’s school have since begun reviewing their outdoor and indoor checklists, and speaking to the children about spiders and what to do if they ever see one.

Sheil commended the school’s response in her warning to other parents.

“We urge everyone to take precautions, get your homes sprayed, check your children’s toys and shoes, and keep a look-out for spiders, especially with this humid, wet weather,” she said.