Mario Bautista
An Aussie mum is lucky to be alive after a deadly encounter in her backyard, having come face to face with a highly venomous tiger snake which struck at her.
Tracey Alexander, 48, was in the garden at her property in Duncraig, Perth when she felt a sting on her ankle. But only after rushing inside did she realise that she’d been bitten three times.
Tiger snakes are incredibly dangerous due to their large size and powerful venom, which has potent neurotoxic and coagulant effects. The species accounts for an estimated 17 per cent of snake bites in Australia and they have been responsible for four deaths, according to Australia Wide First Aid.
Snake catcher Gianni Hodgson from Hodgson Snakes in Victoria previously told Yahoo News Australia, “the best thing you can do if you come across any snake is to keep your eyes on it and walk backwards until you are a safe distance away”.
They’re the fifth most venomous snake on the planet and it doesn’t hold back when threatened. “They’re really defensive, and aren’t reluctant to bite and will defend themselves quite readily,” Jack Gatto, the owner of Bellarine and Surfcoast Snake Catching added.
Mum rushed to hospital after deadly snake bite
Alexander said she noticed a scratch on her ankle, but at first, thought a tree branch could have caused it. “I just looked down to have a little look and I noticed that there were three bite marks,” she told 7News.
Her 17-year-old niece rushed to her aid, wrapping her leg in bandages, while her daughter called an ambulance. She was rushed to hospital where she spent the night in care.
Paramedics say bandaging from the extremities of the bitten limb up to the body to restrict movement is crucial. Tiger snake bite victims must also remain still until help arrives.
“It’s a bit scary. I keep seeing that snake head in my head,” the 48-year-old said days after the ordeal. “I don’t think that’s going away in a hurry”.
It’s not clear how the venom affected the Perth mum, however immediate symptoms usually associated with a tiger snake bite include:
The highly neurotoxic venom can also cause paralysis, and some people may experience anaphylactic shock from a bite.
Aussies share terrifying encounters with tiger snake
Tiger snakes are identifiable by their signature black and yellow stripes. The species is often found near watery environments such as creeks, dams, drains, lagoons, wetlands and swamps. They’re commonly found around southeastern Australia and in the country’s southwest.
In March this year, a seasoned snake catcher found himself in hospital fighting for his life after he was bitten by a highly venomous tiger snake while responding to a relocation request.
Mark Pelley, commonly known as ‘The Snake Hunter’, was moving the snake with his pinning stick when it suddenly broke, causing the snake to bite his hand. The effects of its venom were almost instant.
Meanwhile, an Aussie dog owner was heartbroken when his beloved French bulldog Knox died after being bitten by a tiger snake.
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