THE INDEPENDENT (Johannesburg, S Africa) 06 May 04 Rare black adder claims female victim
Ruegen (Sapa-DPA): A rare and deadly black adder claimed the life of a woman in Germany who had the presence of mind to call a doctor before lapsing into unconsciousness, officials said on Thursday.
The 81-year-old woman on the Baltic island of Ruegen called the village doctor saying she was feeling faint after having just been bitten by a snake, which she had thrown into a rain barrel.
The physician arrived 15 minutes later to find her unconscious. Resuscitation efforts failed.
Hearing a hissing sound from the rain barrel, he cautiously peered in and saw a 70cm snake, just as she had described it.
Herpetologists identified the reptile as a common black adder, the only poisonous snake in northern Europe.
Rare black adder claims female victim

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