Martin Roberts, beloved presenter of Homes Under the Hammer, has opened up about a terrifying gardening mishap that left him with severe eye pain and long-lasting effects. In 2019, while trimming a seemingly harmless plant in his garden, Martin was exposed to a toxic sap that caused his eyes to swell, stream, and ache intensely.
On Channel 5’s ‘Garden Makeovers from Hell’ (available on My5), Martin recounted the frightening incident. He noticed a plant that had been growing uncontrollably and decided to prune it without giving the potential risk a second thought. “I didn’t even think about it. We’re in Britain, not a tropical rainforest where you have to be cautious about plants,” he explained. However, as he cut the plant’s barky stems, he saw a white sap oozing out.
Unaware of the danger, Martin accidentally rubbed his eyes with sap-covered hands. Within 20 minutes, his eyes were in excruciating pain, feeling as though they were “exploding” into his brain. Disturbed by his symptoms, he researched the plant and identified it as euphorbia, or spurge—a plant known for its toxic milky sap that irritates skin, mouth, and eyes.
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According to Poison Control, severe exposure to euphorbia sap can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, difficulty swallowing, and mouth swelling, while contact with eyes may lead to redness, irritation, blurred vision, temporary blindness, and in rare cases, permanent blindness.
Upon arriving at the emergency room, Martin recorded a video cautioning others about the hazards of euphorbia. His eyes were visibly red and streaming as he recounted the medical staff’s urgent response. “They started washing my eyes out with gallons of water. I asked how serious it was, and they said it could be permanent.”
The ordeal was emotionally taxing—Martin described crying as he feared potential lifelong damage. Prompt saline washing reduced the pain, but the effects linger. “My eyesight still hasn’t recovered fully. My eyes get very dry at night, so I rely on eye drops. Thankfully, it could have been worse,” he shared.
Martin’s experience serves as a stark warning: even common garden plants can pose serious health risks. His “garden makeover gone horribly wrong” has made him more cautious, though he remains passionate about gardening. This incident underscores the importance of handling plants like euphorbia with care and awareness.