Man dies from snake bite
A 41-year-old man from Warburton has died after receiving a bite from what was believed to be a western brown snake.
It is understood the victim, originally from Blackstone Community in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, picked up the snake in an attempt to kill it and was bitten on the hand and forearm three times last Wednesday.
Laverton police said he died a couple of hours after the attack, having failed to seek medical attention.
It is the first death reported from a snake bite in WA since 2010.
Senior Sergeant Heath Soutar said police and St John Ambulance attended the scene.
“We were involved from the start — there was word that a gentleman had been bitten by a snake and he was being looked for when a job came through that he had collapsed down at one of the camps, ” he said.
“(Police) and (St John Ambulance) attended where St John immediately started giving him first aid.
“They got him up to the Laverton Hospital and that’s where he was later pronounced dead.”
The snake was recovered from the scene and is in the freezer at the Laverton Police Station. Sen. Sgt Soutar said the snake was believed to be a gwardar, or a western brown snake.
“We’ve got the snake and we are looking to send that down to the city to be examined — when they get it down there, they do a test and do a skull analysis, ” he said.
“They’ve had a preliminary look at it and that’s what they think that it is — a western brown.”
Department of Parks and Wildlife officer Wayne Moroney said snakes were starting to get active at this time of year and there was usually a build-up of toxins when they came out of hibernation.
He said snake bites were usually more effective at the start of the snake season.
“Don’t approach snakes, stay well back, don’t try to pick them up or make them aggressive, ” he said.
“Generally people will get bitten by snakes if they tread on them or corner them.
“Just let the snakes move on their way — if they are in your yard, make your presence known but don’t go near them because once they realise you are there, they will move out of the area.”
Yesterday a three-year-old boy was airlifted to hospital after being bitten by an animal - believed to be a snake - in Dandaragan.
The boy was taken by ambulance to Moora where he was collected by the RAC Rescue helicopter to be flown to Perth.
He was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment and has now been discharged.
On Sunday, a six-year-old boy was also bitten by a snake in Moora.
He was flown to Princess Margaret Hospital and has also been discharged.
People who had a problem with snakes in their house should call DPAW on 9080 5555.
