Woman Survives Multiple Bites from Snake Trapped in Shoe Heel
A remarkable survival story unfolded in Sydney, Australia, as a woman escaped serious injury after being bitten multiple times by a highly venomous eastern brown snake that became entangled in the heel loop of her shoe.
A snake catcher with Reptile Relocation Sydney described the incident as unlike anything he’d encountered in his career. The woman was geocaching in a garden bed in Narellan, a suburb in Sydney’s southwest, on Saturday afternoon when she first felt the snake on her leg.
After jumping from the garden and shaking her leg, the woman realized a snake had become lodged in her shoe. According to the snake catcher, the woman exhibited crucial composure in a dangerous situation. “The minute she realized it was a snake, she stayed still,” he said. The snake attempted to escape, wrapping around her ankle several times in the process as it struggled to free itself from the shoe’s heel.
The woman immediately contacted emergency services, and arriving paramedics quickly summoned the reptile expert. A photograph sent by the paramedics confirmed the presence of a young adult eastern brown snake – a species known for its potent venom.
The snake catcher admitted to feeling immense pressure, stating, “It hit me heavy. I thought, if she dies, that’s on me.” He discovered the snake was already suffering from heat stress, having been trapped on hot asphalt for over 30 minutes in temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit).
“Seeing it was heat-affected, I was relieved,” he explained. “I was able to pin it very quickly, undo her shoe, she took her foot out of her shoe and moved away.” A paramedic then carefully cut the heel loop to release the snake, but tragically, the reptile succumbed to the effects of heat exposure.
Despite sustaining multiple bites, the woman survived and was transported to a hospital for observation. She has since been discharged. The snake catcher emphasized that not all bites from venomous snakes result in envenomation, but immediate medical attention is always critical.
He praised the woman’s quick thinking and adherence to safety protocols. “A lot of people think you get bitten and you’re gone, but staying completely still has a big part,” he said. He strongly advises anyone venturing outdoors to carry a snake bite bandage and keep one readily accessible in their vehicle.
“It’s still unbelievable,” the snake catcher concluded. “If someone had told me that it went through the loop of the shoe and I didn’t see the photos, I’d say bullshit.”
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