Richards Bay fisherman survives snake bite

A day out fishing at a friend’s farm dam in Hluhluwe took an unexpected turn on Sunday for Richards Bay resident Marcel Viljoen.

He was struck on the ankle by what snake catchers are debating could have been a baby black mamba.

This after Marcel identified the snake as a snouted cobra, and posted his ordeal on social media.

“We were out fishing like we usually do. I can remember asking my daughter Mia (8) to play on the other side,” recalled Marcel.

“Not long after that, I felt a sharp sting on my ankle that I can only describe as an injection.

“I initially thought a stick had poked me but I soon saw the snake slithering into the dam.

“I knew at that moment that my only choice was to stay calm and somehow catch the snake with my fishing rod so it could be photographed for identification purposes,” he said.

Marcel was rushed to Life Empangeni Private Hospital where he received ‘brilliant’ care, and lived to tell the tale.

He commended the hospital staff and their level of healthcare, as well as his friends Wessel Els and Madeleine Maree, who ensured he made it to the hospital in time.

He is also grateful for the moment he suggested his daughter move to a different area.

See the full story in the Zululand Observer Monday edition.

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