Man Dies While Removing Venomous Snake From Childcare Center

A man died this week after being bitten by the second-deadliest snake in the world, while attempting to remove the venomous reptile from a childcare center in Queensland, Australia.

Jerromy Brookes, 47, had been called to the childcare center near Townsville by a relative to assist in the removal of an eastern brown snake, a venomous species native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. However, Brookes, who is not a licensed snake catcher, was bitten three times on his left arm by the snake. Instead of calling for emergency medical services, the husband and father instead drove home after dispatching the reptile.

When Brookes arrived home, his wife bandaged the bites and immobilized his arm, but he soon went into cardiac arrest. His wife called paramedics and performed CPR while waiting for help to arrive, but sadly, by then it was too late.

“The information provided to us was that the gentleman had been bitten in a different location and attended back to his residence, where his wife has immobilized his arm and wrapped it, when the onset of the symptoms occurred,” said Queensland Ambulance Service acting district director Paula Marten, per the Cairns Post. 

“When you’re bitten by a snake and you’re not aware of snakes, treat them as if they are venomous,” Marten explained, stressing the importance of staying calm, and keeping the bitten person calm throughout the ordeal.

“Apply basic first aid, which would be immobilization and using compression bandages, and contact triple-0,” she continued, referring to Australia’s main emergency service number. “If you are unsure about what first aid measures to take, call triple-0, and they will walk you through what you need to do for the patient.”

The tragic incident highlights why only licensed snake catchers and trained experts should ever approach snakes, much less a deadly species such as the eastern brown.

“Just do not touch it, call a licensed professional snake catcher,” snake catcher Ben Avery told Australia’s 9 News. “Neurotoxic venom, they are going to start affecting your muscles, your heart, and every single organ.”