Geelong man Jack Gatto bitten by snake, crocodile and spider in three days

A Geelong Elvis impersonator and snake catcher ended up in hospital with heart palpitations after a run-in with two reptiles and a redback. WATCH THE VIDEO

A renowned Geelong Elvis impersonator was all shook up after being bitten by three different deadly Australian animals in as many days.

Jack Gatto, of Leopold, was working at Koorana Crocodile Farm in Queensland on August 20 when he mistook a deadly snake for a non-venomous breed.

The snake had slithered into alligator enclosure Mr Gatto was working in.

“I picked it up, and I didn’t realise that I’d been bitten on the finger,” Mr Gatto said.

“The next day, I kept working and had some heart palpitations that night.”

Snake Catcher Jack Gatto was bitten by a crocodile, snake and spider in three days while working at a crocodile farm in Queensland. Picture: Brad Fleet

Mr Gatto went back to work the next day, not knowing the venom of the lesser black whip snake was still coursing through his veins.

While he was moving a 3.4m saltwater crocodile at the farm, Mr Gatto noticed his heart palpitations worsening.

The next day, Mr Gatto’s list of unfortunate run-ins with wildlife continued.

“I had cuts on my hands from the baby crocs we were moving,” he said.

“When we chuck our hands in to move them, sometimes they snap back and give us a little nip.

“I’m pretty sure that was the day I was bitten by the red back also.”

Local snake catcher Jack Gatto was bitten by a lesser black whip snake.

As his condition worsened, Mr Gatto was taken to hospital and was monitored by doctors until his heart palpitations went away.

He was well enough to return to work the following day.

He then went home in Leopold to take time to relax and recover.

Mr Gatto, who also owns Bellarine Surf Coast Snake Catchers, said he had no animosity against the critters that contributed to his hospital visit.

“It was complacency on my part,” he said.

“Snakes aren’t out to get you.”

A busy man, local music lovers might recognise Mr Gatto as Geelong’s premier Elvis impersonator, or from his time on tour with the Wiggles.

Mr Gatto will return to his work as a fly-in, fly-out staff member of the Koorana Croc Farm in January.

Originally published as Geelong man Jack Gatto bitten by snake, crocodile and spider in three days