Madeleine West has shared a graphic photo of a bloody wound after a leech attached to her leg during a recent bushwalk.
The 47-year-old former Neighbours actor posted the image to her Instagram stories on Thursday, showing a fresh, bloody mark just above her ankle and captioning the post, "Leech got me good." She also uploaded a selfie taken near a waterfall in bushland as part of a country getaway.
West, who is also an author and podcaster, has frequently shared aspects of her personal life on social media. The injury post came months after she welcomed her seventh child in April. Speaking on the Australian television program The Project shortly after the birth, West described the early days of parenting with characteristic humor, saying she felt like "a smashed vase that someone has wrapped up with gaffer tape" and describing the fog of sleepless nights.
In January she announced the unexpected pregnancy with a social media post that read, in part, "WHOOPS!" She later posted a photo of the newborn and wrote, "Earthside at last… and utterly perfect," without disclosing the infant's sex or name. West shares five daughters and one son with her ex-partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett.
Leeches are a common hazard in some Australian bushland, and bites can cause irritation, bleeding and swelling. West did not provide further details about medical treatment or whether she sought care following the incident.
The actress rose to prominence on the long-running soap Neighbours and has since appeared in other television dramas, including Underbelly. She has been open in interviews and on social media about balancing work, parenting and personal life following the expansion of her family.
The Instagram posts documenting the leech bite garnered attention from followers who responded with concerns and sympathies. West has previously engaged with fans on social media about both lighthearted and practical aspects of parenting and life in the public eye.
No further updates on West's condition or any long-term effects from the bite have been released.