Death adder: five bites and pulling through

The Sydney Morning Herald. ^ | October 13, 2006

[kingattax]

A Sydney holidaymaker has received two doses of antivenom following five bites from the world's second-most deadly snake, an NRMA CareFlight spokesman says.

The 50-year-old man was attacked by a death adder snake at the Del Rio water ski resort at Wisemans Ferry last night in Sydney's outer north-west.

He was bitten when he picked up the snake in the dark thinking it was a lizard.

Other holidaymakers killed the snake and put it in a plastic bag so it could be positively identified by hospital staff.

The man, from Schofields in Sydney's north-west, suffered a heart attack and paralysis from the wounds but an NRMA CareFlight trauma team revived him.

They worked for 30 minutes to stabilise the man before placing him on the helicopter's ventilator and flying him to Westmead hospital.

He arrived at 10.20pm (AEST) and has since received two doses of antivenom and is expected to receive additional doses today, the spokesman said.

The man has been moved from the hospital's emergency department to the intensive care unit.

His condition is stable and improving this afternoon, says the hospital.

[kingattax]

The Death Adder snake.

[HKMk23]

Oh, hey, wha-- Here. Hold muh beer.

Now, what's this we 'ave here? Naw, no use tyrin ta hoid down theah in the dahk. C'mon ya little liza --- aAAAIIEEEE!!!

[kenth]

Is there anything that's NOT poisonous there? ;-)

I'd still love to visit one day though.

[Jemian]

HK, take a look at the little bitty tail that snake has. Usually, that is all that is seen of the snake poking out from under a rock or a bunch of leaves where it is hiding. Then, the critter which eats lizards sees that tail, gives it a tug and whap! The hunter becomes the prey and death is usually very very quick.

Death adders are distinguished by that small tail and very wide, almost squat body.