My great aunt had a phobia about snakes. She was scared to death of them, but she also loved to talk about them. I remember one time she was lovingly detailing the black mamba (including the old tale about it's being as fast as a horse). I remember how she acted out with her hand how it can strike again and again, and then saying "see, look at the goose bumps on my arms, just from talking about them...."
Just the other day, my neighbor asked had I seen any snakes around, I said no and asked why. She stated her friend would come out and get the snake if I let her know. My wife called me in just when I was about to ask the neighbor what her friend does with dead snakes.
The tale about it being as fast as a horse is obviously not true .....but the part about goosebumps, well, have a look at a mamba. They will give you goosebumps ...especially when you know what they can do. And yes, when they strike they do it repeatedly.
So she died of fear?