THE NAMIBIAN (Windhoek, Namibia) 28 January 08 Attacked by snake in bed, in city (John Grobler)

Well-Known Namibian photographer, artist and writer Amy Schoeman narrowly escaped partial blindness and serious disfiguration when she was bitten in her face by a zebra snake in the early hours of Friday morning.

"I woke up from this sensation of having been hit with the sharp end of a hammer in the face," Schoeman said from her home on Sunday.

What she initially thought was a rabid cat turned out to be a zebra snake coiled behind the headboard, which apparently entered her bedroom through an open door adjoining the veld.

Also known as the Western Barred Spitting Cobra or Rinkhals (Afrikaans), the Naja nigricollis woodi snake has distinct black rings on its body and tail and a highly cytotoxic bite that causes tissue to develop necrosis, or die off.

If cornered, it raises a black hood and spits large quantities of blinding venom at its pursuer.

Schoeman said, having just written an article on zebra snakes, she knew that there was no anti-venom for this species, and she immediately called her son, Madryn Cosburne, who managed to get her to the MediClinic Hospital within 30 minutes.

In another stroke of luck, Dr Tommy van Wyk, who is an expert on treating snakebites, happened to be at the hospital and immediately started treating her with large doses of cortisone to limit the tissue damage.

By Saturday, her condition had stabilised and a consulting plastic surgeon pronounced her fit to return to home care, Schoeman said.

Ironically, being bitten in the face has an upside: because the face does not contain much fat and has a lot of blood vessels, timely treatment can limit the worst damage, she said.

But it has brought home the risk of sleeping in an area where these snakes, known to be highly aggressive and prone to striking several times when provoked, could get in, Schoeman said.

The risk is especially large during the rainy season, and especially to people sleeping outside on the ground, said Schoeman.

"People have to realise that these are very aggressive snakes and if you roll over in a sleeping bag and hit the ground near the snake, it will strike at your hand," she said.
Attacked by snake in bed, in city

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