Mum adopts gecko from Spain after finding it in her suitcase

North Wales Chronicle

28-07-2025

Beth Withington and her partner Ryan Birch, 31, travelled to Costa Blanca in Spain for a week of sun with their three kids on July 13.
When they returned home on July 20 from their Jet2 holiday, the 24-year-old, who was simply expecting to tackle a mountain of washing, was shocked to spot the tiny reptile lurking inside Ryan's case.
The pharmacist dispenser assumes the 2.5-inch gecko must have been inside their hotel room and covertly crawled into the unlocked case stashed under their dressing table.
After sharing their pint-sized stowaway on TikTok, the clip has gone viral with more than 146,000 views (Image: Kennedy News/bethwithington5) The worried couple scooped him up into an aerated plastic tub and rang a vet who confirmed they were able to keep him.
Despite previously saying they'd never have pets, the mum-of-three believes the gecko 'chose' their family and have decided to adopt Grylls, named after the British Adventurer Bear Grylls.
After sharing their pint-sized stowaway on TikTok, the clip has gone viral with more than 146,000 views.
Despite swapping the sunnier climes of Spain for a chillier Manchester, the reptile seems to be thriving thanks to a tank and heat mat gifted by kind-hearted social media users.
The couple are due to take him to a vet to ensure he's disease-free and safe for the family to handle.
Beth, from Littleborough, Greater Manchester, said: "We were all shocked and didn't know what to say. We couldn't believe it.
"It wasn't until Monday afternoon that we opened the suitcase. As I got all the clothes out I noticed a lizard and I was like 'oh my god Ryan there's a lizard there'. I was really shocked.
"The first thing I did was slam the suitcase shut because I was a little bit scared. We opened the suitcase back up and it was just there running around.
"We took the suitcase back downstairs and at this point we didn't really know what to do. We put it in a plastic tub and my partner put a few holes in it with a screwdriver.
"We ended up ringing a lizard wildlife number. He said 'send me your address and a picture of it and someone will pick him up'.
"I put a post on social media saying 'does anyone know what to do with it?' A few people commented saying they'd take it in so we thought 'we might as well keep it then'."
After the vet confirmed the family were able to keep the gecko, they decided to adopt him.
After being gifted a tank and heat mat from social media users, the pair bought locust hoppers, fruit flies, gecko food, reptile bark and a UV light to keep Grylls comfortable.
Beth said: "We're enjoying having it as a new member of the family. It's a sign, he clearly wanted to be part of our family.
"He chose us and now we've got a little holiday souvenir.
"We've called it Grylls like Bear Grylls and my partner says he's a born survivor. He's a very strong little lizard.
"We never considered getting a pet gecko and we said we wouldn't have any pets.
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"We have said if Grylls passes away we will have to buy another one. I think he's really cute and the children would be devastated, it's meant to be.
"I told my [three-year-old] son we were getting rid of it at first and this morning when he woke up I told him we're keeping it and he's thrilled.
"He said 'I love the lizard's new home, it's amazing'. I think he's very happy about it.
"Some people [on TikTok] were really offended and acted like I took it and put it in my case like 'you're coming home with me'. But we believe it chose us.
"We couldn't put it into the wild, it wouldn't survive and it wouldn't be fair on it."
A Jet2 spokesman said: "With our generous 22kg luggage allowance, there is always room for a gecko or two!"