Snake catcher’s ‘heart in mouth moment’ in power struggle with deadly eastern brown
A Queensland snake catcher had a frightening close call with the world's second most deadly snake when he was called to remove the serpent from a home.
Footage of the snake expert relocating the eastern brown from a poolside patio at Twin Waters, on the Sunshine Coast, filmed on Sunday shows the man in a power struggle with the venomous snake.
The clip begins with the snake catcher creeping up on the serpent, before he pounces and grabs it by the tail.
The snake tries to break free of the catcher's grip, while charging forward within centimeters of the man's fingers.
Stuart McKenzie from The Snake Catcher 24/7 - Sunshine Coast made several attempts to control the reptile before he was eventually able to lower it into a bag for relocation.
Sharing the video of the catch on Facebook, he described it as "Definitely a heart in mouth moment".
"I thought I was in control but he just kept coming up and up and ended up getting 6 inches above my hand and passing within centimeters of my fingers," he said.
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"When working with dangerous animals you have to expect the occasional close call."
Mr McKenzie said the snake never had its mouth open while it was being caught, but admitted the head of the second most venomous snake in the world was far too close to his hand.
The catcher said he has never been bitten by a venomous snake before, and he planned on keeping it that way.
Looking back at the footage today, Mr McKenzie said it "sends a shiver down the spine".
