UPDATE: Young girl stable after being bitten by spitting cobra

A little girl was jolted out of her deep slumber when a venomous snake slithered onto her pillow and bit her in her family home near Sugar Rush, Compensation, on Sunday night.

At about 8pm, an hour after tucking the two daughters into bed, the parents heard a scream according to the dad, Ludwig Grove.

“My wife, Inge, went to check what was wrong. She walked into the dark bedroom and bent over our younger daughter, Mikayla-Sue’s bed as she was complaining of a tooth ache. As she was bending down, she heard an aggravated hiss and felt like someone opened a hosepipe in her eyes,” said Ludwig.

Hearing the commotion, Ludwig ran into the room, switched on the light and realised what had happened.

Also read: Deadly snake joins family at dinner table in Ballito

“I saw about half a metre of the Mozambique spitting cobra’s body on Mikayla-Sue’s pillow and the bite on her chin. Inge grabbed Mikayla and ran out, while I told Izabella to quickly walk to me.”

They immediately rushed to Netcare Alberlito hospital and phoned North Coast snake catcher, Neville Wolmarans.

“I was told they were already on route to hospital and after checking that the hospital was aware of their pending arrival, my nephew Skye Coulter and I raced out to the farm to capture and remove the snake,” said Wolmarans.

“The female snake is approximately 1,2 metres long and not in the best condition. I suspect that she may have laid eggs recently.”

Also read: WATCH: Unexpected visitor slithers across Zimbali golf course

Ludwig said his daughter has been given anti-venom, sedated and placed on a ventilator.

“Mikayla has had 14 vials of antivenom. She will remain sedated and on the ventilator until the swelling has gone down. She is not out of danger yet, but she is stable.”

Inge’s eyes have been checked out and although they are still burning and heavily swollen, she has been released from hospital and should not have any lasting effects.

https://www.facebook.com/NdlondloReptilePark/videos/1857435754267804/

How to survive snake season in Ballito

Wolmarans advises the following steps be taken if you unexpectedly find a snake in your home/office:

• Maintain a visual – don’t lose track of where the snake is!
• If possible take a photo of the snake in order to identify it (Wolmarans will identify pictures sent to him on Whatsapp).
• Don’t try to handle the snake yourself!
• Call a professional immediately (they can’t remove a snake a week after you’ve spotted it…)
• Remember that it is not their objective to remove harmless snakes – as they are a healthy part of the environment.

“Once you are aware of the snake’s presence it shouldn’t pose a threat to you – snakes only bite people as a defensive measure.”

“If you don’t approach or aggravate it, it will most likely leave you alone,” warns Wolmarans, “Trying to kill it would be an example of aggravating it.”

In the event of a snake bite, Wolmarans advises the following measures be taken immediately:

• Wipe the spot where the snake bit you.
• Draw a circle around the bite so doctors can easily isolate the puncture wounds.
• Note the time you were bitten.
• Phone ahead to the hospital with a description of the snake so they can prepare an anti-venom.
• Do not attempt to kill or capture the snake it as this could just lead to more bites.

Lastly, it is important not to view snakes with an irrational fear (though it’s often not a matter of choice) – they are a crucial part of a healthy and thriving eco-system and at the end of the day are likely to be more afraid of you than you are of them.

For everything snake related – or if you need a snake removed from your property, contact Neville Wolmarans on 082 561 4969.

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