‘Things can kill you here’: British beachgoer captures footage of snake on Perth beach

A shocked British expat has filmed a very Australian sight on a beach - and she’s warned the world “things can kill you here”.

A beachgoer on Australia’s west coast was joined by a slithery, venomous friend who simply wanted in on soaking up some summer rays.

Sarah Brunners, a British woman living in Perth, recently visited Mettams Pool, a scenic beach tucked away just north of tourist hotspots Scarborough and Trigg, when she spied a small brown snake slithering through the sand, captured some footage, and uploaded it to TikTok.

Australia is home to 21 of the 25 most toxic snakes in the world, so it’s unsurprising that for many travellers in the comments, Ms Brunners’ caption hit the nail on the head: “When you remember you live in Australia and things can kill you here.”

The video, set to the tune of Men at Work’s Down Under, shows the snake gliding in and around the sand, almost imperceptibly at times.

Ms Brunners, a content creator who regularly posts content about life in Australia, including travelling to its beautiful beaches, confirmed in comments that she warned the fellow beachgoers towards whom the snake was quickly approaching in the video.

“Yes, we shouted at them and finally once they saw it they decided to take notice and move,” Ms Brunners wrote.

Ms Brunners is a lifestyle content creator based in Perth. Picture: TikTok via @sarahbrunners

Commenters from around the world expressed their shock, including one who described a recent visit to the country as disconcerting: “I remember seeing so many black snakes on the rocks and side walks in Australia. It was so disturbing.”

Another said that the country “isn’t the land for the living” and that “Australia is Jumanji,” referring to the franchise movie and book series that centres on jungle-based challenges.

The scary snake sighting was on a beach in Perth, Western Australia. Picture: Tiktok via @sarahbrunners

The snake moved swiftly through the sand dunes. Picture: Tiktok via @sarahbrunners

While spotting these creepers can be scary, it’s not an uncommon occurrence to see snakes slinking around during summertime in some parts of Australia.

Since they’re cold-blooded animals, they love to bathe in the sunlight to help regulate their body temperatures. Importantly, they’re also a key part of keeping the local ecosystem in balance.

If you encounter one, the best advice is to keep some distance from the snake, and never try to capture it, according to Royal Life Saving WA. While they’re rare, most snake bites occur when people try to capture them or kill them, as the snake becomes defensive and aggressive.

Otherwise, snakes generally present little to no danger if left alone and will generally avoid people.

If a snake is found on your property or elsewhere, call a licensed snake catcher, and in the situation that someone is bitten, call 000 immediately.

Originally published as ‘Things can kill you here’: British beachgoer captures footage of snake on Perth beach