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