PHUKET: The body of Phuket's ''Spideman'' victim is being sent to Bangkok today to be post-mortemed by Dr Porntip Rojanasunan, Thailand's best-known pathologist, as fears grow about the mysterious death.

While having an exotic Australian killer spider on the loose on Phuket is still considered unlikely, it's not ruled out by worried locals around the village in Mai Khao wnere Wanchai Wonglakorn, 30, and his wife lived.

It was at his home that Khun Wanchai was bitten by a spider on Sunday.

He and his wife, Piyanan Boonsrir, worked at Phuket International Airport, selling fruit.

Flights arrive at the airport regularly from Australia, home of the potentially deadly red back and funnel web spiders.

The redback especially has a reputation for secreting itself in dark corners and biting people when they are unaware of its presence.

Phuket Public Health officials have searched the couple's home and been unable to turn up any spiders that may have bitten Khun Wanchai.

He first visited the local Thalang Hospital on Sunday, complaining of a spider bite, then returned, still suffering pain, on Monday, where he died about 6pm.

His death has simply been recorded as being the result of ''an unknown animal.'' Photographs of the bite seem similar to spider bites.

Health officials have asked local residents in Mai Khao, north of the Phuket airport, to capture any strange insects or spiders they see.