WATCH: Harding man dies after being bitten by black mamba
The man died in the ambulance on the way to Port Shepstone Hospital.
A FIFTY-FIVE year old man died last Saturday after being bitten on the hand by a black mamba at his Harding home.
Snake catcher Sarel van der Merwe from Pure Venom Reptile Park, received a phone call asking for help identifying the snake which had bitten the man.
“The man was picking up clothing in his room when the 1.5 metre black mamba struck,” said Sarel.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Mamba mia! Keep an eye out for these snakes
The man was rushed to St Andrew’s Hospital, but died in the ambulance while being transferred to Port Shepstone Regional Hospital.
The Herald is waiting for comment from St Andrew’s Hospital regarding the incident.
Sarel drove for more than an hour to get to the house in Santombe, inland from Harding.
When he arrived he was met by a group of distraught people.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: WATCH: Three metre black mamba bagged in Mtwalume
“The door of the room was shut. I peeped through the window and saw the snake, which I identified as a black mamba,” he said.
I opened the door and when I shone my headlight on the snake, it moved towards the door. It was very aggressive and I had to use both my grab sticks to catch it – Sarel van der Merwe
Sarel said it was his first call out to a scene where someone had died after being bitten.
“If you get too close to a black mamba and it feels threatened it will strike to defend itself,” he said. “All snakes, when cornered, will strike, but a black mamba will follow up the strike with an attack”.
Sarel warned people not to pile items like suitcases up in their house or garage, as snakes like to hide behind these items. He added that a snake with a coffin shaped head is likely to be a mamba.
Summer time is snake season which keeps Sarel very busy.
Last Friday, he snagged a 1.2 metre green mamba at Folly Fields Nursery in Umzumbe, and then a 2.2 metre big green at a farm in Southport.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
For news straight to your phone, add us on BBM 58F3D7A7 or WhatsApp 082 421 6033
