Glenlyon boy survives deadly snake bite in Victoria’s north west

SPRITELY three-year-old Felix is lucky to be alive after being bitten by a deadly snake on a property in Glenlyon, north of Daylesford.

LUCKY: Felix, 4, is lucky to be alive after being bitten by a snake near his Glenlyon home on Tuesday night. Picture: Tony Gough.

YOUNG Felix Tiger has more fight in his name than a snake.

The spritely three-year-old is lucky to be alive after being bitten by a venomous snake in the state’s north west.

The youngster was on his family’s Glenlyon property, north of Daylesford, when he was nipped on the calf — possibly by a deadly tiger or brown snake — on Tuesday about 7pm.

Mum Alyssa McNeilly had left her son, whose middle name is Tiger, outside for two minutes alone when the drama unfolded.

“I was with him outside and went to put the handheld phone back in the house,” she said.

“When I came back I saw a snake was near him, slithering away very quickly.”

The local teacher sprang into action when Felix cried he’d been bitten.

“I grabbed a tea towel and wrapped it around the leg. I looked for puncture holes, which I found,” she said.

Felix, 4, with mum Alyssa McNeilly. Picture: Tony Gough

“It felt like a long time but then the ambulance came.”

Felix was rushed to the Ballarat Base Hospital, where he was monitored overnight.

“We were greeted to a massive hospital room and massive team, who were just fantastic,” she said.

Ms McNeilly said she didn’t know what kind of snake bit her son, as she only caught a glimpse of the creature slithering away.

Dad Richard Donker was told his son could have been bitten by either a tiger or brown snake.

Felix did not require a dose of anti-venom and recovered quickly after the incident.

“Felix was very cooperative during the experience, he coped very well,” Ms McNeilly said.

Local snake catcher Sean McCarthy, of Snake Handler, said tiger snakes were often found in Glenlyon.

“At this time of year, if they live near water it would have been a tiger snake,” he said.

Brown snakes frequent warm, dry environments.

The Glenlyon family said they would be more mindful in the future of snakes near their property.

“We have chook pens and veggie patches, so I guess the area we live in is (snake) territory.”

Felix was discharged from hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Ms McNeilly said her son wants to make sure the snake doesn’t hurt anyone else.

“He wants to catch the snake and put him in a cage,” Ms McNeilly said.

@Kara_Irving