Cycling in Australia’s New South Wales ended in fear for both a person and wildlife because a woman was attacked by an eastern brown snake whose body became entangled in a bicycle chain. According to a report by The Guardian, the event occurred on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail in Burringbar, Tweed, when the cyclist ran over the snake that was about two metres long. Luckily, the woman got a dry bite and was discharged from the hospital next day. In addition, the case provided some valuable safety tips while cycling or walking in the snake territory.
A routine ride turned into a dangerous encounter
The woman was riding a bicycle in the area of the popular Northern Rivers Rail Trail around 1 pm and ran over the snake. Being trapped in the bicycle chain, the snake’s body could not move, but the head was left entirely free and managed to bite the woman in the thigh. The victim was urgently delivered to the Tweed Valley Hospital in a stable condition.
The snake was one of Australia’s most venomous
The identified type of snake was the eastern brown snake, which is one of Australia’s most venomous reptiles and among the most medically significant ones all over the world. Eastern brown snakes are known as the cause of numerous serious cases of snakebites in Australia, but fatalities are still rare because of quick medical help. These snakes are widespread across eastern Australia and usually try to avoid people.
Snake catcher faced a difficult rescue
The professional snake catcher Sarah Mailey, who came to the rescue, explained that this case was especially complicated because only the body of the snake was trapped. Since its head was entirely free, it was possible for it to attack again, so Mailey managed to pin it down while other people helped to take apart the broken bicycle chain. Some police officers came to assist during this process, too.
A ‘dry bite’ made the difference
Despite all the horror of the situation, doctors have established that the woman suffered from a dry bite, which means that venom was not injected in the bite. However, it is known that even the bite of such a venomous animal as an eastern brown snake can become a dry one, resulting in punctures and nothing more. At the same time, doctors insist that any snakebite requires immediate medical attention since it is not always possible to identify at once if the venom was injected.
Why did the incident happen
According to Mailey, there were several unusual things that caused such a rare accident. The first thing is that the eastern brown snake was blind in one eye, so it could not notice the approach of the cyclist. Besides, cool temperatures made the reptile less responsive, so it could not have enough time to escape in time. The snake was most likely hiding underneath the concrete surface of the trail because of burrows and rodents.
Eastern brown snakes are often misidentified
It was also mentioned that eastern brown snakes are often mistaken for other kinds of snakes, often because of their colour. There are many non-venomous snakes in brown colours that scare local residents and tourists unnecessarily. It should be noted that eastern brown snakes vary widely in colouring, starting from red and silver up to almost black. That is why Mailey warns everyone against identifying a snake by its colour.
What cyclists and walkers should do
If someone sees a snake during a walk, it is recommended to stay calm and give it enough space. If it is seen from a distance, it is better to stop and wait for it to leave on its own than to try scaring it away. If necessary, the cyclist should dismount their bicycle and move around the snake keeping the biggest distance possible. Trying to touch or chasing the snake is dangerous for sure.
