A University of Bristol student experienced a shocking surprise when she opened a clothing parcel from fast-fashion retailer Shein, only to find a live scorpion inside.
Sofia Alonso-Mossinger, 18, initially mistook the creature for a toy until it moved, prompting her to call for help from her flatmates. “It was pretty scary,” she recalled.
With assistance from her friends, the venomous scorpion was carefully relocated into a container before being handed over to an expert for safe removal.
Upon unboxing her order, which contained a pair of boots, Alonso-Mossinger described her surprise: “I unzipped the outer packaging and saw something move and was like, what’s this?”
After confirming it was a scorpion, she quickly sealed the bag and called for help. “I thought I was dreaming,” she admitted, explaining that while she usually handles spiders well, facing an actual scorpion was a different experience.
Flatmate Phoebe Hunt rushed to help after hearing screams, finding Alonso-Mossinger with the scorpion in a bag. “We were not exactly thrilled to have a scorpion in the flat,” Hunt said.
Initially suggesting they should kill it, she and her flatmates soon decided on a more humane approach, using tongs to gently place the scorpion into a container.
Oliver James, studying zoology, helped transfer the creature while expressing concern over its potential venom. “It was a bit nerve-wracking,” he noted, as they were unsure of the scorpion’s toxicity.
Once contained, the flatmates ensured the scorpion had water and a place to hide while they contacted animal welfare groups. After attempting to reach the RSPCA, they connected with the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW), which dispatched someone to assist within hours.
According to NCRW’s Chris Newman, incidents of stowaway scorpions are more common than one might think. He identified the scorpion as *Olivierus martensii*, also known as the Chinese scorpion. Newman warned that while its sting could be serious, an average adult would likely just have an unpleasant experience.
This incident marks the second time in a month that a scorpion has been reported arriving in a similar manner. Fortunately, the situation concluded without injury, and Alonso-Mossinger reflected, “It feels like a funny story now, but it was pretty scary at the time.”
