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CYPRUS MAIL (Nicosia) 22 June 05 Man critical after cobra bites the hand that feeds it (John Leonidou)
A father of two was yesterday fighting for his life after being bitten by a deadly cobra in Larnaca on Monday.
Snake handler Nicos Charalambous from Moutayiakka in Limassol was bitten by a King Cobra in Larnaca while attempting to feed the deadly poisonous snake. According to police, 43-year-old Charalambous was bitten on the finger by the 1.2 metre cobra as he attempted to put food in its cage.
The man was rushed unconscious to Larnaca General Hospital, where he received a general antidote for the venom and was placed on a respirator. Specialist Doctor Margarita Kourouklaris said the bite had given Charalambous problems with his vision and he also suffered breathing difficulties. She added that the treatment was symptomatic and that the proper antidote for this kind of poison didn’t exist in Cyprus or even Greece.
Peyia reptile park owner Hans-Joerg Wiedl, better known as Snake George, told the Cyprus Mail that the bite from a King Cobra could be deadly.
“This particular snake is extremely dangerous even to humans and its poison has a nerve toxin which needs to be treated as soon as possible. Every minute is crucial after being bitten by a snake like the King Cobra and it needs to be treated almost right away. The bite of this cobra stuns the nervous system of its victim and can send a human into paralysis or a coma.”
The attack on Charalambous raises some very serious issues, according to Snake George.
“Responsibility is the key issue in this matter and although accidents do happen, this particular accident should not have happened. People or places that have dangerous snakes like these need to be fully prepared and of course fully equipped.
“I was stunned to find out what had happened to this person because they should have had the antidote for this particular snake bite with them or in a safe place nearby. These types of accidents shouldn’t happen but in the event that they do, people should know what to do, how to react and how to treat the bite as soon as possible. I wish the man all the best and hope he makes a speedy recovery.”
Cobras are not found in Cyprus and will only be found in the wild on the island if somebody released one into the wild.
“The most common snake in Cyprus is the Macrovipera Lebetina or Blunt-nosed viper. The particular kind of snake has a blood toxin poison which basically means that it is not as dangerous as the cobra and that there should be enough time to go the hospital and have the bite treated. As far as I know, the hospitals on the island all have the antidote for this kind of snake poison and the doctors know what to do if somebody gets bitten from this snake”, said Snake George.
He added: “Here at the snake park in Peyia, we inform people continuously on the dangers of snakes, not only the ones in the wild on the island but also about other types of dangerous snakes.”
Charalambous had set up a kiosk on Finikoudes in Larnaca for the Kataklysmos Public Holiday in which he planned to exhibit the various snakes he owned. The 43-year-old, who had a total of 25 snakes on show including three cobras, was charging £2.50 entrance fees for adults and £1.50 for children to walk into his kiosk and see the snakes. For £3, people could also have a picture taken with a python wrapped around their neck.
Man critical after cobra bites the hand that feeds it

n/p

A Darwin award candidate! Do the math:

King Cobra Bite - Serum = Dead
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"Fighting on the forums is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded."

DH June 2005

The press referred to this as an "attack", which it was not. The handler should have had the proper tools, including long forceps for feeding, & should have had a supply of serum. I sincerely hope he is now an ex handler.

~~Greg~~

Greg:

As you know the press always calls it an "Attack", like the snake said, " Okay, when the man comes through the door you distract him and I'll attack him from the other side..then we steal the car and head to the airport."

Far out but that's what they sound like..next they'll be part of the insurgency in Iraq.

It should be more like " The stupid keeper startled the King Cobra or.. in the process of offering the King Cobra food the snake bit the keepers hand by accident. Sending the fool to the hospital where doctors pulled their hair out because he kept no antiserum for this snake."

Sorry, I was rambling but it make me nuts to hear this crap all the time from reporters.

Al
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"Fighting on the forums is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded."

DH June 2005

If we let up, they are going to keep doing it. We need to force them to start shaping up their comments to be factual.

Any contact info?

This one's in Cyprus..near Greece...way out of our area. Let stick to US press for now.

Al
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"Fighting on the forums is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded."

DH June 2005

{Wes note: Editorial comments are mine}

CYPRUS MAIL (Nicosia) 23 June 05 ‘It’s all over for the snake show’ - Cobra bite victim making steady recovery (John Leonidou)
A man who was bitten on the hand by a deadly cobra was yesterday making a steady recovery, according to doctors at Larnaca General Hospital.
Nicos Charalambous, 43, was bitten on the finger as he attempted to feed one of his cobras that he had on show in kiosk on Larnaca’s Finikoudes pier. He was taken to hospital unconscious and immediately put on a respirator. Doctors had described the father of two’s condition as critical but not life threatening.
Larnaca police officials yesterday began investigating the circumstances of the attack and began making background checks on Charalambous. The Veterinary Services had stated that it was discovered that although the snake charmer had a licence for the snakes, he did not have a licence to put them on show.
Reports also suggest that it was not the first time that Charalambous had been bitten by a cobra and that he had actually been bitten by the type of snake before. On both occasions he did not have the necessary antivenin to treat a bite by the snake.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Moiseos has ruled out any future snake exhibitions.
Specialist Doctor Margarita Kourouklaris, who has been handling Charalambous’ case, told reporters that the rare antivenin needed to treat the poison in his blood had finally been tracked down.
“The patient has been given the antidote, which was flown in from England, and we are pleased to announce that his body has reacted positively to the medication.
“All the tests have shown that he is making a positive recovery and we are hopeful that he will soon make a full recovery.”
All of Charalambous’ 25 snakes, including the deadly king cobra that bit him, have been taken back to Charalambous’ home in Limassol by Larnaca police and the help of a German expert.
Meanwhile, Peyia reptile park owner Hans-Joerg Wiedl, better known as Snake George, told the Cyprus Mail, that people shouldn’t panic because of this rare attack, adding that cobras are not endemic to the island.
“I want to save the snakes on the island because a lot of people that are scared of them just want them dead and that isn’t right. There are other ways to capture a snake without having to harm it.”
‘It’s all over for the snake show’

Why not just pet it to? Holy Moly hand feeding a king cobra, way to go einstein....