Snake shocks mechanics working on engine in South West Sydney

A group of mechanics had a frightening shock yesterday when they found a red-bellied black snake nestled in the engine of a car they were working on.

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A group of mechanics had a frightening shock yesterday when they found a red-bellied black snake nestled in the engine of a car they were working on.

If it wasn’t for the intervention of man’s best friend, the mechanics might not have discovered the snake before it delivered a nasty bite.

A pair of dogs, belonging to a staff member at Talese Mechanical Repairs in Minto, alerted staff that something was “off” with one of the cars in the workshop.

A red belly black snake nestled in the engine of the car. Picture: Scott Condous

“One of my staff keeps a couple of dogs around the place and they were acting a bit funny and let us know there was something wrong with the car,” owner Scott Condous said.

“We put the car up on a hoist for the night to check it out and when we went to check out the car the next day we saw there was a red belly in the engine.”

Mr Condous said he called Campbelltown Fire and Rescue NSW, and along with staff members the firefighters spent the next hour and a half trying to coax the snake out from the engine.

Firefighters and mechanics work to remove the snake from the car. Picture: Scott Condous

“He was pretty angry … we found little marks from where he’s struck out,” he said.

“He was very agile as well; we had trouble getting him because he’d move very quickly.

“You could have 10 people watching the engine and he’d disappear in a flash because he was that quick.”

Mr Condous thanked the firefighters for helping the business with their slithering friend.

“I was a bit worried with my staff poking around because I didn’t want them to get hurt,” he said.

“The firefighters did a great job … I don’t think people always realise all the different things they do.

“They took the snake out to bushland and released him back into the wild.”

Although red-bellied black snakes are potentially dangerous, they are shy and generally only act aggressively when provoked.