After being bitten six times by a spider, a crew member on Alec Baldwin’s Rust was spared the need to have their arm amputated.
Jason Miller, a lamp operator and pipe rigger, was breaking down the set after the accidental shooting by Baldwin that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when he was bitten by a brown recluse spider – a venomous spider that is native to North America.
Miller, a diabetic, began to experience severe symptoms within days. He also experienced necrosis in his arm (which occurs when cells stop functioning) and sepsis.
Multiple invasive procedures were required to remove muscle and skin.
Fortunately, Miller has responded well to treatment, and doctors for now have ruled out amputating his arm, according to Sky News.
Jason Miller is a pipe rigger and lamp operator. However, while he was finishing down the production of Rust, a deadly brown recluse spider bit him.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT: Jason Miller’s spider bite almost cost him his left arm (pictured), but after multiple surgeries, the film worker seems closer to a full recovery then amputation
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT: Miller started experiencing severe symptoms, including necrosis of his arm, which occurs when cells die, and sepsis
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
What you should do if you are bitten by brown recluse spiders
Bites of brown recluse spiders are often not noticed at first because they usually feel painless.
Sometimes, minor pain that feels like a beesting can occur at the moment of bite. Most symptoms appear within 2-8 hours of a bite. Most bites cause little tissue destruction.
A venomous spider with a brown color, the brown recluse is native to North America.
The bite area is initially mildly reddish. However, closer inspection might reveal fang marks.
The reddish appearance will fade within a matter of hours and be replaced by pallor. Over many hours, the lesion may appear to be flowing downhill.
Over 12-48 hours, the blisters can become bluish and then turn black.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers records that the brown recluse spider caused the death of the last American victim in 2004.
Spiders can be found in the Western and Southern states.
Source: WebMD & al.com
Miller also had to struggle for financial relief when he tried to finance the Baldwin-produced movie.
He said his calls to execs about workers’ compensation were dodged six times before the company finally agreed. Justin Pizzonia’s attorneys Lydia Pizzonia said that their firm is working closely with the film’s insurance company in order to pay him for his injuries.
The lawyers told TMZ however that talks were moving along smoothly and they’re also preparing a complaint against movie’s insurer company if the client isn’t properly compensated.
Miller has also created a fundraising page to raise $13,437 more than his $5,000 goal.
A spokesperson for Rust Producers, Alec Baldwin included, stated to Sky News earlier this month: “We don’t comment on the private lives of individual cast members and crew members.”
Miller maintains that what happened is rare. He would prefer to keep the spotlight on Hutchins as he feels her tragic death could be avoided.
After Baldwin fired at Hutchins, pointing and firing a Colt pistol that contained a live bullet at him while they were rehearsing the scene, the set for Western movie has been closed.
Baldwin stated that it’s unlikely that the movie with a low budget will be made.
Baldwin was handling the vintage gun on the set of Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when it discharged – killing the mom-of-one and wounding director Joel Souza.
Hannah Gutierrez Reed was the armourer and the gun was checked by David Halls who, as assistant director, told Baldwin it was cold, meaning that it didn’t have blanks.
Jason Bowles (Gutierrez-Reed lawyer) told The Today Show that ‘She’s heartbroken, and she’s just devastated by what’s happened. ‘
Bowles stated previously to NBC News, that Bowles was a young armourer who had no idea from where the live bullets came. He also never saw anyone shoot live ammunition on the set.
Halyna Hutchins (cinematographer) was killed by an actor Alec Baldwin’s prop gun. The incident occurred on the set of the movie in New Mexico, October 21.
Jason Miller, a lamp operator and pipe rigger, was working on the set of Rust in New Mexico (pictured) when he was bitten by a venomous spider
Since actor’s death, the set was closed.
Gutierrez–Reed received less than $8,000 to do her job, as compared with $650,000 that the producers had set aside and a $350,000 contingency payment in the event of an emergency.
Baldwin was also slated to earn $150,000 as the lead actor, and his production company, El Dorado, was taking a $100,000 fee, while Hutchins was budgeted to earn $48,945.
The independent movie had a modest overall budget of just $7,279,305, according to a draft of the production budget dated September 8, which was revealed by the Hollywood Reporter.