WINNIPEG SUN (Manitoba) 02 November 08 Snake buff has regrets - Sorry for causing fear (Rob Nay)

A man who almost died after one of the world's most venomous snakes bit him in the face told the Winnipeg Sun he's sorry for the fear the incident caused.

"I wanted to put out an apology to the public and my friends and family for the scare," said Gerry Brown, 32.

On Oct. 19, Brown was bitten on the bottom lip by a West African gaboon viper, which was in his possession at the time in Winnipeg.

"I was just a little overconfident and complacent and went to take some pictures and messed up," he said, adding the snake had been in his possession for just over a month.

Brown, an snake enthusiast for more than 10 years, was taking pictures of the snake outside its cage when he said he got too close to the normally docile snake, which bit him on the lip.

"She just nipped me," he said.

He quickly locked it back up in its cage and began trying to squeeze the venom out of his lip.

"I was definitely panicky, but you want to keep your heart rate as calm as possible so the venom doesn't spread," said Brown.

He called his girlfriend and she drove him to the hospital, where he told staff what had happened.

Brown's lip had swollen considerably and he later blacked out.

Hospital staff worked to save his life while friends contacted Bry Loyst, the owner of a reptile zoo in Ontario who co-ordinated the shipment of antivenin used to treat and save Brown from death.

"I'm very thankful for how they treated me," he said.

Brown's friends destroyed the snake after the incident, Brown said.

He had bought the animal a few weeks before from a man he met.

"I think they're a beautiful snake. I still do," Brown said. "I do not blame the snake -- I blame myself."

The creature itself was less than a year old and measured about 12 inches.

"I named her Daisy. I thought if she ever catches me I'll be pushing up daisies," said Brown.

He said he owned snakes in the past and took precautions to keep Daisy locked up and carefully handled her prior to the recent bite attack.

After only two days in hospital, Brown was released.

"I've got a minor scar in my lip but that's it, thank God," he said.

About eight years ago Brown was bitten by a rattlesnake and he said the recent encounter with another venomous snake has changed his mind forever about owning them. "I'm retired from owning snakes," said Brown.

He now faces a possible fine for violating a bylaw restricting or prohibiting exotic creatures in Winnipeg.

"I made a bad decision," said Brown.
Snake buff has regrets

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