Nick Evans: ‘Handle snakes at your peril’
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW.
A SNAKEBITE victim who suffered with pain and feared he would lose his finger as the swelling in the affected area on his finger was not receding, even after consulting a medical doctor.
The victim, from the south of Durban, handled what seemed like an innocuous looking snake, but it bit him.
It tuned out to be a stiletto snake.
Although mature stilettos grow to about 30cm and their bites are not fatal, its fangs always leave a lingering impression that needs the appropriate medical attention.
In response, renowned Durban snake rescuer, Nick Evans repeated his warning to the public about picking up snakes, regardless of how harmless they might appear.
“Even if you intend helping them, depending on the species, it will likely bite you. It does not know if you are a human that likes or dislikes snakes. It will be terrified no matter who you are.
“Stiletto snakes are not intimidating, and many assume they’re harmless. However, they are very quick to bite and they possess a cytotoxic venom,” Evans explained.
“Fortunately, the bite is not fatal. But it can cause a great deal of tissue damage, swelling and pain.”
Evans said the snakebite victim suffered and worried about losing his finger.
He explained that there were no safe way of handling stilettos.
While snake removers like himself hold snakes like mambas by their necks, he said: “Do that with a stiletto snake, and it will bite.”
He said the fangs protrude out the side of the mouth and not through the skin. When this happens, “you’re in for a rough ride”.
“Holding this short, wriggling snake by the tail, is also a bad idea. It will very easily get a fang into you.
“Stiletto snakes are not evil creatures to be killed. They just want to be left alone, to hunt small snakes (which seems to be mostly what they eat).”
He said the snakebite victim went to a private hospital but he urged him to get a referral to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital as it was a government hospital which was excellent at treating snakebites.
It is alleged the private hospital would not refer him but instead gave him antibiotics and anti-inflamation medicine .
“This did not help, and his finger got worse and worse, over days,” Evans said.
He said, luckily, the snakebite victim consulted snakebite expert Arno Naude and later Dr Timothy Hardcastle.
“With advice, he went to a GP, who opened the swollen, necrotic area, draining the swollen area, where a lot of fluid came out. The wound is now being treated, and he’ll keep his finger!” Evans exclaimed.
The snakebite victim allowed Evans to share his experience to educate others and raise awareness of the importance of not picking up snakes.
Useful snakebite experts for doctors to contact or if you feel you have the wrong treatment:
- Arno Naude: 083 739 9303
- Johan Marais: 082 494 2039
- Dr Hardcastle: 082 468 1615
Please do not pick up snakes:
- Even if you think you know what it is.
- Send a picture for identification or removal to a professional snake remover.
- If a snakebite occurs, try to get to your nearest hospital (do not drive yourself). It is wise for you, or someone, to phone the hospital ahead, to give them a heads up. They may refer you to another hospital.
Evans said he was trying to track snakebites in KwaZulu-Natal, and a database showing statistics would be useful.
He called on doctors, patients, friends or family of the victim to share via WhatsApp’ or email him details of snakebite incidents.
Evans said personal details were not needed, just information about the incident and the outcomes, and it was a way to back-up his public messages with statistics.
DAILY NEWS