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TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN (Australia) 30 January 07 Death adder strikes teen (Jessica Johnston)
A teenager was bitten by a death adder in Collinsville yesterday.
The 18-year-old man was bitten on the finger by the snake on a private property on the banks of the Bowen River at Gattonvale about 11.30am.
A Queensland Ambulance spokesman said the snake was believed to be a death adder.
He said the snake was trapped at the scene, which gave ambulance officers the chance to identify the breed.
The spokesman said the victim was showing no symptoms of the deadly venom as he was taken to Collinsville Hospital.
However, the Royal Flying Doctor Service flew him to Townsville Hospital for further treatment yesterday afternoon.
The spokesman said blood tests would confirm whether the snake was a death adder.
The death adder is the ninth deadliest snake in the world and if not treated, victims have a 50 per cent mortality rate.
The venom attacks nerves and paralysis can occur if the patient is not treated.
While most snakes slither away when a human approaches, the death-adder curls up waiting to strike its prey if it gets too close.
A Townsville Hospital spokesman said the patient was in a stable condition last night.
Death adder strikes teen

Another teenage male bitten on the hand.

Gee, I wonder why these snakes keep "attacking" the hands of these innocent children.

I'm sure a smallish percentage are guys reaching places they couldn't see....like doing yardwork etc.

For the rest though, living in Australia and picking up ANY snake with your hands is indeed filling out an application for the Darwin awards.

At least they used the word "strikes" instead of "attacks" for a change...