Snake catcher lucky to survive Black Mamba bite
Hermien Grobler managed to get herself to a hospital in time for lifesaving treatment.
A local snake catcher is lucky to be alive after being bitten by a black mamba last week.
Hermien Grobler, a member of Centurion Snake Catchers, is still receiving treatment at Netcare Unitas ICU but was expected to be moved to high care on Saturday, February 3.
Her heart and kidneys were severely affected by the venom.
According to Arno Naude, the incident occurred on Sunday, January 28, when Grobler received a call about a snake under a car.
In a Facebook post, Naude explained that Grobler was en route to a rescue centre with some bush babies that had been rescued when she received the call about a snake.
When she arrived, she found a “fair-sized” Black Mamba in the vehicle’s engine bay.
Black Mambas are one of the world’s most venomous snakes, severely affecting the respiratory system.
“She could only see some of it and grabbed it with the snake tongs to stop it going down into the depths on the vehicle,” Naude’s post read.
“The snake’s head popped up right on the other side of the engine and bit her in the left hand.”
Grobler immediately contacted Naude, who advised her to leave the snake and urgently drive to the nearest hospital, Netcare Unitas in Centurion.
“Waiting for an ambulance would waste time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Naude made use of his network at the National Snakebite Advisory Group (NSAG) as Grobler rushed to the hospital.
The NSAG is made up of doctors, herpetologists, doctors who specialise in treating liver conditions, and vets to help coordinate emergency care in snake bite incidents.
“One call later and the hospital was on standby and had anti-venom available and knew they could trust the identification of the snake and not have to wait for symptoms.”
“Hermien was at this stage driving in excess of 160 km per hour and the trip which normally takes 25 to 30 minutes was completed in 17 minutes,” he said.
Grobler had shared her live location as she drove as the hospital prepared for her arrival.
She began to feel tingling in her arm, her tongue, and lips, and she started sweating.
These were all signs of a serious envenomation, according to Naude.
Grobler arrived at the emergency department just in time.
“When she was picked up onto the bed she collapsed and stopped breathing,” said Naude.
He said that the doctors immediately intubated her, and put up a drip to start infusing the anti-venom they had.
An ambulance was sent from another hospital with more anti-venom.
“Normally the patient recovers quickly and has no further effects,” he said.
However, Grobler began to experience a cascade of other symptoms.
“Her heart was badly affected and this caused tachycardia and hypertension,” Naude explained.
“Her kidneys also shut down and she had to receive dialysis.”
Grobler was not able to breathe on her own and was kept on a ventilator.
Within days she could breathe on her own and was able to speak briefly and recognise visitors.
Her dialysis was stopped as the kidneys had regained their function.
“She was thirsty as her throat was affected by the tubes and her lungs are also not perfect yet, which is to be expected.”
On Friday morning, Naude said that Grobler was sitting up and talking, eating and drinking.
He said that Grobler would be transferred to high care by Saturday, and is on the road to recovery.
“She is one lucky lady.”
Mike Perry, owner of African Reptiles and Venom went to the site to remove the snake shortly after Grobler left.
Perry said that the vehicle that the mamba was found in was transported on a flatbed trailer from Dendron (Mogwadi) in Limpopo to a smallholding on Summit Road near Diepsloot.
He said that the snake is now safely in his collection of about 900 snakes which he keeps to supply venom for the production of lifesaving anti-venom.
“It was a serious bite,” he said.
“If you have the signs and symptoms [after a snake bite], you need to get the anti-venom. If you have a serious bite, it can take just 45 minutes to paralyse you, and that’s exactly what happened to [Grobler],” Perry told Rekord.
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