Joel Herrington: Hiker ‘bitch slapped’ by super aggressive python
A Cairns hiker has become the third victim of a rogue scrub python after it ambushed him at a popular Far North waterfall and caused profuse bleeding to his head. See the videos.
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A Cairns hiker has become the third victim of a rogue scrub python after it ambushed him at a popular Far North waterfall and caused profuse bleeding to his head.
On Monday Joel Herrington aka Joey Zayne made the 3.3 km trek to Clamshell Falls for a refreshing dip with friends.
But when leaving Behana Gorge the trip took an unexpected turn.
Mr Herrington said he was walking back up to the main track along a rocky path when he noticed a large scrub python overhead in a tree.
“We took some photos and video. It was a safe distance but every time I put my camera down my friend was saying it was moving closer,” he said.
“I forgot my keys for my motorbike and I was going through my bag and plastic bottles fell down.
“I went to grab them and as I was walking back up it hit me in the side of the face. It felt like someone had just bitch slapped me and I fell down the rock.”
The professional gardener clutching his face walked back to the creek to wash off the blood and recorded a video showing blood squirting out of a facial wound.
“The blood was literally pouring out of my face,” he said.
“I put my T-shirt over the wound to stop the bleeding. It was pretty scary the amount of blood coming out.”
Pictures reveal a 15cm gap between wounds left by the upper and lower jaw of the snake and reveal just how close fangs came to Mr Herrington’s eye.
“I’m just glad it didn’t hit my eye. If it had struck my eye it could have been a really serious situation,” he said.
After photos were posted to social media this week others have come forward to detail their own encounters with what has been described as an unusually aggressive python, estimated to be 2.5m in length.
Beth Henley said her friend also got bitten on the head and an older woman fell down the embankment after being startled by the same snake.
An owner of a Darwin python and experienced snake handler, Mr Herrington didn’t believe the snake should be relocated following suggestion the snake needed be reported to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
“I think it hangs down to get the bats. It gets in position for the night and just got confused,” he said.
“I have a lot of experience with snakes and they usually don’t do that. It’s a very territorial snake.”
A Department of Environment and Science spokeswoman stated the body was aware of recent reports of a snake biting visitors to Behana Gorge.
“(DES) is reminding everyone to always give snakes space,” she said.
“Rangers in the Cairns region have encountered people encroaching on wildlife including snakes to take photos, and strongly urge park visitors to be respectful of any wildlife they encounter within protected areas.”
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Originally published as Joel Herrington: Hiker ‘bitch slapped’ by super aggressive python
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