WZVN (Naples, Florida) 28 August 07 Handler bitten by 3 1/2 foot rattlesnake

Charlotte County: A 30-year-old man has been bitten by a three and a half foot venomous rattlesnake.

It happened Tuesday night around 8:30 at 41180 Little Farm Road, which is near State Road 31 in Charlotte County.

Family members identified the victim as David Weathers. He is apparently a well known snake handler in the reptile world and has more than 140 snakes on his property.

Authorities say Weathers was bitten twice by an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, which is poisonous and can be very aggressive.

"They don't like to be cornered they don't like to be handled. If they get a chance they will turn and attack if in that position," said Battalion Chief Harper, who works for the Charlotte County Fire Department.

The victim's father, Kevin Weathers, says David was cleaning out cages when he picked up the Eastern Diamondback. When he attempted to put the snake in another cage it struck at him and its fangs landed twice between his thumb and index finger.

Kevin says David almost immediately lost feeling in his legs and was short of breath.

A medical helicopter quickly transported Weathers to Lee Memorial Hospital where they have anti-venin in stock.

Moments after he was given the anti-venin, Kevin spoke to us at the hospital about his son's condition.

"He is going to be fine. His blood pressure is fine, they gave him a sedative, and everything is ok. His hand is a little swollen. I have a big belief in God; we've gone through this before. You just have to be calm. I know he's not going to die," said Kevin Weathers.

Kevin says he and his son have both been bitten by venomous snakes in the past.

In fact back in 2003, we reported on Weathers after he was bitten in the stomach by a cobra.

His fight for survival made national headlines.

Later that year he also appeared on the MTV show "WildBoyz."

Weathers has also survived bites from an alligator and a lion.

Back then he told us why he worked with such dangerous animals.

"I like snakes it's something I've always been fascinated with," Weathers said in a 2003 interview.

Firefighters say that Weathers was taken to Lee Memorial because it has anti-venin, not all hospitals do.
Handler bitten by 3 1/2 foot rattlesnake

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