Snake bites Obed Nkosi resident
Snake handler Braemer Willard was called and caught the rinkhals.
The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to a victim bitten by a snake in the Obed Nkosi flats in Ratanda on February 3.
The EMS attended to a 28-year-old man bitten on his left middle finger.
While they took the patient to the Heidelberg Hospital, local snake handler Braemer Willard was called to the scene.
Willard caught the snake, identifying it as a rinkhals of about 10cm in length.
”Rinkhals are a common snake in and around Gauteng and extremely venomous. The venom is primarily cytotoxic, meaning it is tissue-destroying venom. A rinkhals can spit 3m accurately,” Willard stated.
Willard said he has over 25 years of experience in snake handling, and residents can call him immediately if they spot a snake.
Luckily, the rinkhals gave the man a dry bite, injecting no venom. He was discharged from hospital after six hours.
Call Willard on 068 120 1641.
