Hillcrest resident bitten by puff adder while hiking in the berg

JUST a week after a teen was bitten by a puff adder in the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg, another hiker has been bitten.

Jon Oliff, a Hillcrest resident, was hiking near the Bushman’s Nek border post when he was bitten on the right foot by a puff adder. 

Despite it being a dry bite (where no venom was released), the 38-year-old said he was grateful for the help from emergency services. The venomous snake bit through Oliff’s shoe with one of the fangs leaving a single puncture mark on his right foot.

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“We were about five kilometres in on the hike when I felt something spikey prick my foot. We were in quite overgrown vegetation so I didn’t see anything but the guy behind me saw it was a snake and said it looked quite angry and agitated. They eventually identified it as a puff adder. I then took my shoe off and noticed a little bit of blood but thankfully no severe pain or swelling. I think the group we were with, radioed for help, and I was met on the trail by Ezemvelo Rangers on horses. 

“They arrived quite quickly, I had probably walked about two kilometres when they spotted me. I don’t remember being in too much of pain but I could feel my adrenaline was flowing. They asked if I could ride a horse and I said I could if my life depended on it. I was then assessed by paramedics before being transported to hospital,” he said.

Oliff was transported to Life Hilton Hospital where he was treated.  The upper Highway resident, who returned to work this week said he began feeling unwell on Tuesday and has since been readmitted to hospital to undergo tests.

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He thanked the Ezemvelo Rangers, paramedics and staff at the hospital for their efforts to help him after he was bitten and added the experience has not deterred him from hiking in the future. 

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting