TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN (Australia) 29 November 07 Killer snake attack (Daniel Bateman)
A large deadly snake terrorised three people in Garbutt last night before it was killed completely by chance by a passing semi-trailer.
Mark Archer-Truscott was helping his friend Janelle Brooks and her young daughter fix a sign on his property along Blakey's Crossing in Garbutt about 8pm when a large eastern brown snake came charging out of scrub, heading straight for the trio.
The snake, one of Australia's most deadly, measured about 2m long.
Mr Archer-Truscott, who had caught snakes several times, managed to grab the massive snake by the tail and flick it towards the road.
Much to the trio's surprise, the snake came back to attack them a second time.
"It just surged at us," Mr Archer-Truscott said.
"I've never seen anything like it in the five years I've lived here, and I've seen plenty of eastern browns."
Mr Archer-Truscott again grabbed the angry snake by the tail and flicked it away from Ms Brooks and her daughter, towards the road.
The snake looked like it was about to turn to charge again, however by chance, a passing semi-trailer crushed it under its tyres.
"It was just a freak chance that a truck was passing," Mr Archer-Truscott said.
"I'd hate to think what would happen if it hadn't have come past.
"I just couldn't believe it. It nearly gave me a heart attack.
"I've still got goosebumps."
Mr Archer-Truscott said he had been bitten by three common brown snakes in past 10 years.
Living on a property surrounded by swamp, he has had 15 puppies bitten by snakes.
"It's like a hammer hitting you," he said.
"Doctors have told me that if I was ever bitten again, the anti-venin might work against me.
"But if I was bitten by this thing, I reckon I'd be gone."
People are warned that venomous snakes are particularly active on hot summer nights.
"In the Bohle and Garbutt areas especially, this is where these guys gather," Mr Archer-Truscott said.
"They are chasing the frogs and the birds.
"They are out now and they are very aggressive.
"For an eastern brown to come and attack you twice, it is very uncommon."
Killer snake attack


