3-Foot Carpet Python Attacks Sleeping Child in Australia

A family had to call a snake catcher in the middle of the night after finding out that a carpet python had bitten their child twice before wrapping its body around the boy's arm.

Carpet Python Attacks A Young Boy Sleeping at Home

On Feb. 8, a boy in Queensland, Australia, woke up to a nightmare. A 3-foot carpet python attacked him and even wrapped its body around his arm. The family called snake catcher Steve Brown at 1:30 a.m. in their home in Whiteside to remove the reptile.

Brown told Newsweek that it's common to find snakes inside people's homes because they seek a cooler place in the heat of the day. They are common throughout Australia and can grow up to 13 feet. However, most do not exceed 8 feet.

Brown speculated that the snake had entered through the hole in the ceiling, which is used to connect to an air conditioner outlet. The snake expert added that while the attack seemed unprovoked, on a sleeping child, it wasn't really the case.

The snake catcher clarified that snakes do not attack people unless they are threatened or harassed. In the case of the sleeping child, the snake probably felt threatened and bit the child. Maybe the child rolled on while sleeping, causing it to defend itself.

The coastal carpet python is non-venomous. However, the local hospital suggested the boy to visit them to treat his wounds because python bites can cause a lot of damage like slicing major arteries and nerves that may result in significant blood loss.

Brown said the boy was okay but very shaken. He is reportedly recovering well and is looking forward to going to school with his cool story.

Meanwhile, the snake has been relocated into nearby bushland, away from the people's homes and roads.

Brown reminded the people to call professionals to relocate snakes and not take matters into their own hands as doing so can result in a trip to the hospital, or worse, death.

ALSO READ: Venomous 4-Foot Red-Bellied Black Snake Surprises Golfers in Australia, Takes Refuge in the Cup

Queensland Resident Died From A Snake Bite

A man in his 60 was bitten by an easter brown snake as he tried to relocate it from his Kensington Grove property Saturday. Paramedics were called at about 10 a.m., but he died before they arrived, 7 News reported.

The man reportedly owns pythons and was knowledgeable in handling snakes. His neighbor Michelle Vedredi told the outlet that anything could happen even to a professional. According to her, she also found a brown snake in her own backyard the previous week.

Darling Downs snake catcher Gunt Glaser said he was shocked upon hearing the news and wondered why the man was bitten.

He urged Queenslanders to exercise caution and be always ready for the possibility of a snake bite. He recommends keeping a snake bite pressure bandage and the lawns short and free from clutter.

Eastern brown snakes are venomous and responsible for most snake bite fatalities in Australia. Last week, a video of a red-bellied black snake eating an eastern brown snakelet shocked many, but some were happy because it reduces the latter's population.

Both snakes are venomous, but there's no reported death from red-bellied black snakes because they usually keep themselves away from people. One netizen said they loved red-bellied black snakes in their yard because they aren't aggressive and eat the angry snakes like the eastern brown.