Snake spits venom into man's eyes
2010-05-03 23:34



Sharlene Packree, The Witness

Durban - A Durban security guard is in hospital in a critical condition after a Mozambican cobra sprayed venom into his eyes on Monday.

Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) armed response guard Lushen Naidoo was responding to a call-out in Verulam, north of Durban, when he was attacked by the 1.5m cobra.

According to the website African Reptiles and Venom, the Mozambican spitting cobra is probably the most dangerous African snake after the black mamba.

Its bite causes severe local tissue destruction. The venom it spits into the eyes can cause impaired vision or blindness.

Rusa director Prem Balaram said that when a family called his control room about a snake in their yard, Naidoo responded immediately.

"When he got there, the family pointed out where the snake was hiding. He asked the family to leave the yard while he searched for the snake," he said.

It is believed that as Naidoo told the family to move into the house, the snake reared its head behind him, and attacked him.

"He tripped over the snake and his glasses fell off. The snake then spat in his eyes," Balaram said. Naidoo managed to fire a shot at the snake, which slithered off into some shrubs.

"We called the paramedics, who told us to flush Lushen's eyes with water. Other members searched the yard for the snake," said Balaram.

After an hour, they found the snake and killed it. It was taken to uMhlanga Hospital where it was identified.

"The hospital needed it so they could use the correct anti-venom. Lushen is in a critical but stable condition," he added.

Balaram said they often receive callouts regarding snakes in the area.

In January, three-year-old Karl Schefer from Kelso, south of Durban, was riding his bicycle when he fell on to a Mozambican spitting cobra. He was bitten on the arm.




- The Witness

His eyes needed to be flushed immediately with lots of water.

Mozambique Spitting Cobra also called Mfeze has a combination of neuro toxic and cytotoxic venom.

This snake can spit from any angle it does not need to raise his head in the classic cobra stance to spit.

When I was in Zim last year, the first evening I was chatting with one of the camp staff and asked him if there were many snakes about. As if on cue we heard a rustling in the leaves and in the torch light saw a large snake slithering among the leaves. I have been around plenty of snakes in India and dont like killing snakes for the sake of it but wanted to see what it was nevertheless! We poked around but it had vanished. Later on the PH said it was most likely a moz spitting cobra!

A few days later in another camp they killed one - also a Moz spitting cobra.

So much for wanting to take a closer look!

Sorry, but I grew up in W.Texas, and if I see a poisionous snake I try my best to kill it.

If you are in the field and a person gets sprayed and don't have water, piss into their eyes. I am not kidding! Time is the #1 thing that leads to blindness in these cases.

quote:

Originally posted by viperidae:
If you are in the field and a person gets sprayed and don't have water, piss into their eyes. I am not kidding! Time is the #1 thing that leads to blindness in these cases.

True...

Time is critical

quote:

Originally posted by Bryan Chick:
Sorry, but I grew up in W.Texas, and if I see a poisionous snake I try my best to kill it.

my space, your space!