Jarrod Bingham responds to Sunbury man being bitten by snake at High St, Melton

A Sunbury man returning home from a fishing trip had to pull over by the side of the road after being bitten by a snake, with a snake catcher saying he is “lucky to be alive”.

Melbourne snake catcher Jarrod Bingham said people needed to be more vigilant for snakes this week as temperatures across the city are expected to soar.

A Sunbury man who was bitten by a snake inside his car after coming home from a fishing trip is “lucky to be alive”.

Emergency services were called to the roadside of High St, Melton on Saturday night after a man in his 40s was bitten by a snake.

The man was returning home after a fishing trip when he felt a sharp pain to his leg and noticed blood on his leg while driving through Melton about 10pm.

A Melton man is "lucky to be alive" after he received a snake bite from a creature inside his vehicle.

Paramedics treated the man at the scene before he was taken to Sunshine Hospital in a stable condition where he remained overnight for observations.

Snake catcher Jarrod Bingham was tasked the following day with finding out whether or not the snake stuck around, but despite “dissecting the car” it could not be found.

Melbourne snake catcher Jarrod Bingham said people needed to be vigilant amid the summer heat.

“The poor bloke spent the night in hospital but thankfully it was a dry bite, there were two clear pricks on his leg,” Mr Bingham said.

“He noticed the blood rushing down his leg so he got out and washed it, that is a big no-no it is important if you think you have been bitten to not wash the area.

“He was out on a fishing trip and must have kept the car door open for 10 or 15 minutes, a short window like that was all the snake needed.

“He’s very lucky to be alive.”

“The message is, amid these soaring temperatures, there will be snakes seeking shade and somewhere to cool down, so people need to keep doors closed and keep an eye out for snakes.”

It comes as the neighbouring Moorabool Shire will consider implementing a free snake removal service after reports residents were handling dangerous snakes with reckless abandon.