THE MERCURY (Hobart, Australia) 07 January 11 Snake bite victim discharged (Blair Richards)
A tourist who was bitten by a snake in Tasmania's remote wilderness has been released from hospital.
The 26-year-old South Australian lived out any bushwalker's worst nightmare when he was bitten late yesterday.
The man was hiking at George Point, about 27km south of Strahan, when the reptile attacked.
The crew of a passing fishing boat stopped to help the man and notified the emergency services.
The Westpac Police Rescue Helicopter was sent from Hobart about 6.20pm.
The man was treated at the scene before being flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital in a satisfactory condition.
The man was admitted about 9.45pm and was released 9.30am today.
It is not known what part of the man's body was bitten.
Reptile Rescue state co-ordinator Chris Daly said snakebites were very rare in Tasmania.
Of the average 1700 snake call-outs attended by Reptile Rescue each year, only three or four involve someone being bitten and even fewer result in venom being injected into the victim.
"Two of them would be dry bites, which means no venom is actually put into your system," Mr Daly said.
Tasmania's three types of snakes (whip, copperhead and tiger) were all venomous, with tiger snakes being the most dangerous, he said.
However, all three would avoid humans if possible and were unlikely to bite.
"The only way I'd say the snake would have bitten the bushwalker was if he had trodden on it. They don't bite you for no reason," he said.
Nine out of 10 copperhead bites were dry bites because of the snake's poor ability to inject venom, Mr Daly said.
Tiger snakes have a much better venom injection system so were more likely to deliver a potentially deadly bite despite their small fangs.
"I got bitten on February 4 last year in South Hobart. I was lucky because mine was a 5½-foot tiger snake.
"With a tiger snake, if you get a dry bite, you've got someone watching over you," he said.
Venom from the snakes can affect the nerves controlling the heart and lungs.
A double layer of tight bandages over the affected limb was a good way to stem the flow of venom, Mr Daly said.
"We tell bushwalkers to carry two bandages, because it will save your life," he said.
Snake bite victim discharged

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