Eastern tiger snake bites father and son; traps dad in Diamond Creek bedroom

A FATHER and son have narrowly avoided death after one of the world’s most venomous snakes bit them before trapping the dad in a Melbourne bedroom.

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A FATHER and son have narrowly avoided death in a frightening encounter with one of the world’s most venomous snakes.

An eastern tiger snake attacked Diamond Creek father Matt Horn and his autistic son, Braeden, 11, striking them multiple times on Tuesday.

Diamond Creek father Matt Horn and son Braeden. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The snake is considered among the world’s 10 most deadly.

Mr Horn said his son was playing in the hallway of their home when the snake emerged.

“He had already started playing with it when my wife saw him out of the corner of her eye,” he said.

“It struck him on the toe and his inner leg.”

Mr Horn said when he rushed to remove the snake from his son, it reared up and struck him twice. He then managed to contain the serpent in a bedroom.

It wasn’t until 25 minutes later that snake catcher Mark Pelley attended after a call from police.

Mr Pelley said paramedics weren’t able to access the bedroom where Mr Horn was trapped until the snake was removed.

Diamond Creek father Matt Horn and son Braeden in the bedroom. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Melbourne snake hunter, Mark "Snake Hunter" Pelley with the eastern tiger snake that bit Matt Horn and son Braeden. He released the snake after the photo was taken. Picture: Supplied

Mr Pelley, who has caught snakes across Melbourne, said while it was not the biggest he had seen, its venom was no less potent.

He added the snakes would become more active as the weather heated up.

“Their bite is incredibly toxic,” Mr Pelley said.

“The venom works to completely destroy the body. It consists of a powerful neurotoxin that works to destroy the nervous system, and a myotoxin that causes muscle paralysis and necrosis.”

Mr Horn said he and his son spent almost 20 hours in Austin Hospital, where doctors said the pair were lucky to have avoided a deadly bite.

“The snake gave a dry bite,” he said.