Barrie Man Has Close Call After Venomous Snake Bites Him
Posted September 13, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Barrie man has learned a valuable lesson about venomous snakes – it’s best not to poke them.
The 26-year-old had a close call Tuesday after doing exactly that.
He was at a friend’s house when he got a little too close for comfort to the pet snake – after he poked it the reptile whipped around and sunk its teeth into his thumb.
Police had to rush a snake expert from the Indian River Reptile Zoo in Peterborough to Barrie with the very rare anti-venom. The man was taken to hospital as a precaution and has been listed in stable condition.
However the zoo is now desperately short of the antidote.
“If he uses our anti-venom today, I’m in a lot of trouble. So then my life is in jeopardy (if I get bitten). Pray it doesn’t happen,” said zoo spokesperson Bry Loyst.
Doctors said the man was fortunate that the snake bit his thumb, because the farther away the poison is from the heart and large blood vessels, the better.
The victim’s name was not released.
Doctors planned to keep an eye on him and track the effects of the venom but said he should be fine.
