On a routine lawn mowing session using a ride-on mower, a Whitsunday local experienced a stinging sensation in their ankle, which was initially dismissed as a minor irritation, similar to a bee or wasp sting. Upon inspection, however, they saw two small red bite marks roughly 10mm apart, leading them to believe they had been bitten by a snake.
Despite not seeing a snake and feeling no immediate pain, they called 000 and then posted on local Snakes of the Whitsundays chat site to see if anyone could identify the snake by the bite. They were overwhelmed with supportive responses, and continued posting the saga to keep everyone updated.
Transported down to Mackay in an ambulance, it was later determined that the bite was likely from a non-venomous snake or a ‘dry bite’, based on the lack of envenomated symptoms. The individual did not experience signs of a venomous bite, such as drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or prolonged blood clotting times. Medical professionals at the hospital monitored the them for several hours, conducting multiple blood tests to ensure that venom had not entered the bloodstream and the bite site was bandaged and splinted for roughly seven hours as a precaution.
The individual did, however, experience severe pain and the medical teams treated the situation with caution, as snake bites can vary greatly in severity, and complications may arise from both venomous and non-venomous bites. The patient was eventually cleared to leave Mackay Hospital after 12 hours of monitoring. The lack of immediate severe symptoms did not eliminate the need for close observation, as anti-venom treatments can have serious side effects and are only administered when absolutely necessary.
Join the Facebook page: Snakes of the Whitsundays, for identification and advice about snakes in the area and attend one of their Snake Education and Safety Community Programs to learn more about safe snake habits.
If you suspect you have been bitten by a snake, immediately call 000.
Caption: The bite marks of the snake. Photo Sourced: Snakes of the Whitsunday Facebook Page
Caption: The bite victim with their leg bandaged and in a splint. Photo Sourced: Snakes of the Whitsunday Facebook Page
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