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THE TELEGRAPH (London, UK) 11 March 08 UK student dies after snake bite in South Africa (Sophie Borland and Sebastian Berger)
A British wildlife student has died after being bitten by a deadly black mamba snake on a safari training course in South Africa.
Nathan Layton, 28, was bitten by the reptile at the Southern African Wildlife College close to the Kruger National Park, where he was training to become a field guide.
Nathan Layton, 28, was in South Africa with his girlfriend Laura Woolley
Lecturers at the college had captured the black mamba - the second largest poisonous snake in the world - in the wild and were planning to show it to the students as part of an interactive lesson.
The staff were in the process of trying to transfer the reptile from a container into a larger bottle so it would be easier to study. It is thought that Mr Layton was waving his arms to encourage the snake to move when it suddenly rose up and bit him on the finger.
At first he did not think any poison had been injected into his skin and after a quick examination by members of staff, who are all trained first aiders, they decided to continue with the lecture.
About 20 minutes later Mr Layton suddenly complained his vision had become blurred and he collapsed into a coma from which he never recovered.
Mr Layton, from Wing, near Leighton Buzzard, Beds, had flown out to South Africa with his girlfriend Laura Woolley, 23, in January and the couple had been hoping to stay there for a year. The attack happened last Tuesday.
Miss Woolley, is thought to have remained in South Africa and Mr Layton's parents Ann and Robert Layton, also from Leighton Buzzard, are making preparations for his body to be returned home.
Jacqui Edwards, Mr Layton's aunt, yesterday described him as a "genuinely loving, caring person with such a warm heart", but said "within minutes" of the bite, he was dead.
Ironically Mr Layton names Steve Irwin, the Australian wildlife expert who died after being pierced by a sting ray, as one of his heroes on a social networking site.
He also says he "loves fishing, walking in the countryside, and wildlife".
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed next of kin had been informed of the death and the British consulate were assisting in the process.
Mr Layton had enrolled on a course run by Bushwise, a company offering to train people to become safari field guides which was being run at the South African Wildlife College.
Participants spend six months in the African bush and six months on a game reserve where they learn skills such as shooting, 4x4 driving and bush knowledge such as conservation, reserve management, geology and animal behaviour.
Students are exposed to dangerous wildlife such as elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards cheetahs and hippos and at the end of the course they are qualified to be employed as guides on South Africa's main game reserves.
It is not known how many people are killed by black mambas each year but its is regarded as Africa’'s deadliest snake as it’s poison can kill a human being within minutes. It is also the world's fastest snake and can travel at speeds of up to 12.5 mph.
UK student dies after snake bite in South Africa

"At first he did not think any poison had been injected into his skin and after a quick examination by members of staff, who are all trained first aiders, they decided to continue with the lecture."

Trained first aiders? Personally, I don't feel the "members of staff" are even remotely trained or qualified enough to hold their jobs. If they were, he might have had a chance.
This is pretty sad.

That behavior borders on criminal.A bite from a Black Mamba and nobody bothered to at least place a compression bandage on? By all means I'm no expert on Mamba's but a dry bite from a Black Mamba? If you find someone who had one tell them to buy a lottery ticket.

This reeks of gross incompetence! This poor young man put his trust in the wrong people! Any 5 year could tell you that if ANY venomous snake bites you, you need to seek medical attention.

If I were his family, I would be calling some lawyers...

orinoco

Do not bother a mamba let it be it most likley will leave.

Do not waive arms at a mamba they might take it as a direct threat and will react with a quick bite!
a large one can bite you on the face or neck easy.

If you must handle one be safe and be immunized.
have anti-venom on hand.
Be close to the hospital time is critical.

Or if you dont want to die get a different snake.
mambas are not a so called starter snake.
a bite is quite a medical emergency!
be safe!

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Bud