‘Cheeky, full of mischief’: Heroic snake bite victim’s final hours revealed

New details have revealed a devastating twist in the death of a grandfather who was fatally bitten by a snake trying to save his mate.

Donald (Donny) Morrison was killed from being bitten by a snake after he successfully removed it from his mate's ankle at Koumala. Picture: Facebook

The friend that grandfather Donald Morrison was trying to save when he was fatally bitten by a suspected eastern brown snake had suffered a dry bite, medical authorities have revealed.

Donald Morrison is being remembered as “the funniest and kindest man”, as his family, authorities, and the community await the autopsy and toxicology results to see whether he was killed by an eastern brown.

Based on witness accounts, it is believed the 69-year-old grandfather was bitten by a snake after he successfully removed it from a mate’s ankle.

It a devastating twist, it can be revealed that the friend, Lloyd Younger, 65, suffered a dry bite. He was taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition and released on Sunday.

Mr Younger declined to comment when contacted on Tuesday.

Following the bite, Mr Morrison went into cardiac arrest at the Koumala State School Centenary reunion, about 60km south of Mackay, about 6.30pm on Saturday.

Bystanders rushed to help until an ambulance came, with a doctor present and a defibrillator on-hand. Paramedics worked on Mr Morrison’s for about 30 minutes to no avail.

Donald (Donny) Morrison Picture: Facebook

Paramedics believe the snake involved may have been an eastern brown, based on how rapidly Mr Morrison’s condition deteriorated, but toxicology results will be decisive.

Susan Paton was at Saturday’s school centenary event and posted on Facebook that Mr Morrison was the first person she saw.

“He was cheeky and his whole face was lit up like a Xmas tree – full of mischief,” she wrote.

The area at the Koumala State School, which was celebrating its 100th year, where the tragedy happened. Photo: Toby Crockford

Sandra Hatfield also shared a lengthy tribute.

“Donny was the hardest, funniest, kindest man ever. He died a hero pulling a snake off another man and then getting it away from the crowd,” she posted.

“He has always been the hero of the family, saving us from trouble even if us girls wanted that trouble at times. He was a father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and bloody good mate and will be so missed.”

Friend Stephen Dancey remembered Don as a “larrikin” entertainer and “true champion”.

Another friend, Troy Hodda, said he could not get his head around what had happened.

“Donny was only just telling jokes and having a good old time, then a few hours later this happens,” he said.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said Mr Morrison’s death had shocked the whole region.

“(Mackay Regional) Council would like to pass on our sincerest condolences,” he said.

“This was a tragic incident, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr Morrison’s family and friends.”

Koumala State School was celebrating its 100th year when the tragedy happened.

On Monday, the family shared a message with the Koumala State School Centenary celebrations group.

“We all enjoyed ourselves, especially Donny who was really happy to have caught up with so many old friends,” the family said in a statement.

“We would like to thank everyone involved with the incident involving Donny, people pulled together in an attempt to resuscitate Don but unfortunately were not successful.

“We are sorry that the incident led to the event being shut down early.”

Queensland Ambulance Deputy Commissioner Dr Claire Bertenshaw said Mr Morrison was bitten on the arm, but could not confirm if he had also been bitten on the chest.

She said anti-venom was on its way until he was declared dead at the scene.

“The advice to people is if you are bitten by a snake, we want to try and limit the amount that it moves around your body,” she said.

“So you need to lie down and stay as still as possible.”

A police spokeswoman said a report would be prepared for the coroner.

This is the second snake death in Queensland this year. In January, a man in his 60s died after he was bitten trying to move a snake in the Lockyer Valley.

Originally published as ‘Cheeky, full of mischief’: Heroic snake bite victim’s final hours revealed