Reptile removalist nearly strangled to death by python vows to keep catching snakes

A SNAKE catcher was nearly being strangled to death by a python while on a job — but the horror experience has not deterred her from still catching snakes

• Shock at finding reptilian intruder inside shower cubicle
• Pythons’ bloody battle in FNQ backyard shed
• Police on patrol locate massive python on Cape York road

A SNAKE catcher feels “pretty silly” after nearly being strangled to death by a python — but has not been deterred from her job by the horror experience.

Mission Beach resident Sue Ambler, who is a licensed snake catcher, was called out to a property at Wongaling Beach on Monday about 5pm to remove a 2.7m long scrub python from a resident’s backyard.

Ms Ambler said when she went to grab the reptile out of a tree, it landed around her neck.

She said before she could unwind the animal, it tightened its coils around her neck and face.

“Before I knew it, I had passed out,” she said.

Mission Beach snake catcher Sue Ambler with burst eye vessels and a burn to her nose, after nearly being strangled to death by a scrub python

“If there wasn’t anyone else there, I would have been dead.”

One of the residents dialled triple-0, and paramedics rushed to the scene.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said the snake had been removed from Ms Ambler’s neck before they arrived at the property, and she was transported to Innisfail Hospital as a precaution.

>> SIGN UP NOW: Get a Fitbit Versa smartwatch with this 12-month Cairns Post digital subscription

Scrub pythons are known as ambush predators, using constriction to kill their prey.

The reptile removalist escaped major injury, but was left with busted blood vessels in her eyes, and a friction burn from the python tightening its body across her face.

Ms Ambler, who has been capturing venomous snakes for years, said she was surprised by how aggressive the non-venomous python had been towards her.

“I feel pretty silly,” she said.

“But it won’t stop me from removing snakes.

“I’d drop everything now in a heartbeat to go and keep doing that with the animals.”

Scrub pythons, also known as amethystine pythons, are regarded as the longest snake species in Australia, growing up to 8.5m, according to the Department of Environment and Science.

The pythons, which live in rainforest, coastal scrub and open forests from Townsville to Cape York, are ambush predators.

They use strangulation to kill prey as large as wallabies, and are known to kill and consume domestic pets.

A DES spokeswoman advised residents wanting to have snakes removed from properties to contact a licenced snake catcher.

Originally published as Reptile removalist nearly strangled to death by python vows to keep catching snakes