KPTV (Portland, Oregon) 18 April 08 Sergeant Wrestles Snake, Rescues Woman - Victim Asks Rescuers Not To Harm Burmese Python, Police Say
Eugene, Ore.: A 12-foot snake attacked a female employee of a pet store, prompting assistance from police, firefighters and emergency personnel Thursday.
Sgt. Ryan Nelson had never tangled with a snake larger than a garter snake before Thursday, reported KPTV in Portland.
All that changed, however, when he responded to a 911 call at 3:41 p.m. to find a woman in a Eugene pet store completely wrapped by a 12-foot Burmese python that was slowly constricting around her, police said.
Nelson saw the woman was in grave danger and feared for her life. But as he pulled out his knife in preparation to save the woman, matters got more difficult.
She pleaded with Nelson not to injure the snake.
So at risk to himself, Nelson complied and began his rescue attempt by trying to wrench the snake's mouth off of the woman's finger -- the snake had begun its attack by biting onto the woman's finger, wrapping itself around her wrist, arm then shoulder and moving toward her throat, police said.
Nelson managed to pry the snake's jaws partially off the woman's finger. A few of the snake's teeth got lodged in his thumb. Then emergency personnel used a screwdriver to free the woman's finger from the jaws of the reptile.
Nelson then put his own squeeze on the snake’s neck and was helped by fire and EMS members to unwrap the snake from the woman.
Nelson then started the task of returning the snake to the cage –- the entrance to which was above head level.
The snake fought itself free and lunged for Nelson, but he grabbed the head again and finally wrestled it into its enclosure.
As he shut the door the angry serpent's head shot forth once more, trying to get in one last bite.
The jaws met only glass.
Neither the woman nor the snake was seriously injured in the ordeal, police said.
http://www.kptv.com/news/15926675/detail.html

THE OREGONIAN (Portland, Oregon) 18 April 08 The big squeeze: Eugene woman survives python attack (Mark Larabee)
Eugene: A 12-foot Burmese Python put the squeeze on its handler Thursday at a Eugene pet store, forcing employees to call 9-1-1 for help.
Luckily for Teresa Rossiter, 46, owner of Best Friends since February, a police sergeant finishing up a day's work answered the call and today he's being credited with saving her life.
Police say the snake latched onto Rossiter's finger, wrapped itself around her wrist, arm and shoulder, and began moving toward her neck, constricting as it moved.
Eugene Police Sgt. Ryan Nelson responded when he heard the call for fire and medical units and found Rossiter lying on the ground wrapped tightly by the snake. Fearing for Rossiter's life, Nelson prepared to use a knife to rescue her, but she pleaded with him to spare the snake.
Nelson used his hands to pry on the snake's tightly clenched jaw and a paramedic used a screwdriver to help force open the reptile's mouth. Rossiter still was wrapped up in the snake's grasp. Nelson grabbed it by the neck and managed to unwrap her. Rossiter and the snake survived.
Nelson then tried to put the snake back in its cage. Still writhing, the snake managed to get free and came after him. He grabbed it behind the head again and tried to again force it into the cage. The snake struck but hit the cage with its open mouth.
Before Thursday, Nelson said his experience with snakes had been limited to catching gardener snakes for his young sons.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/04/the_big_squeeze_eugene_woman_s.html

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