‘A bit scary’: Perth mum bitten by tiger snake while gardening her backyard

“I keep seeing that snake head in my head,” mum-of-six Tracey said. “Don’t think that’s going away in a hurry.”

Alexandra Feiam

2 min read

October 2, 2024 - 6:25AM

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A Perth mother has been rushed to the hospital after being bitten by a tiger snake in her backyard.

Standing outside her Perth Home, Tracey Alexander, 48, was pulling weeds from her garden when she felt something scratching her ankle.

Looking down, she saw a tiger snake, one of the most venomous reptiles on the planet.

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Tracey (left) was gardening when a tiger snake bit her on the ankle. Picture: 7News

Mum bitten by tiger snake while gardening

Bending down to take a look at her ankle, she noticed a “scratch” on the skin. In reality, they were “three bite marks” left by the snake.

“As I turned to run from the snake, I think it struck me, then got me three times,” the Perth mum-of-six told 9News.

Upon realising what happened, Tracey’s family immediately called Triple 0.

While they waited for the paramedics, her 17-year-old niece applied pressure to the wound by making a tourniquet with a belt and wrapping a bandage around her leg.

Without her quick thinking, Tracey isn’t sure what could have happened.

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“She wrapped the wounds very quickly, which saved my life,” she said.

Thankfully, paramedics arrived shortly afterwards and rushed Tracey to Joondalup Health Campus, where she stayed the night.

Released the next day, Tracey returned to her family home.

“It’s a bit scary,” she told 7News. “I keep seeing that snake head in my head. Don’t think that’s going away in a hurry.”

Tracey was rushed to hospital to treat her bite. Picture: 7News

How to treat a tiger snake bite

Despite the efforts from Tracey’s niece, paramedics cautioned others from following the same steps if bitten by a snake.

According to St John Ambulance WA spokesperson Rondel Dancer, there are a lot of “misconceptions” about treating a snake bite, including creating a tourniquet to prevent the spread of venom.

“A lot of people get this misconception that the snake venom goes into the bloodstream, so they would use things like tourniquets,” she said.

“Tourniquets will stop blood flow but won't stop the lymphatic system movement.”

Instead, she recommends people “lay down” and stay still until paramedics arrive. After calling Triple 0, “apply what they call a pressure immobilisation bandage to the limb that's affected.”