Woman bitten by venomless eastern brown snake on NSW rail trail
Consensus Summary
A woman in her 60s was bitten by a two-metre-long eastern brown snake on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail near Burringbar in the Tweed Shire. The incident occurred yesterday about 1pm, with the snake entangled in her bike chain. Paramedics were called, and she was taken to Tweed Valley Hospital in stable condition before being released early today. The snake was euthanased after being disentangled due to injuries, including a pre-existing eye injury. Snake catcher Sarah Mailey was called to the scene and described the process as difficult, with the snakeās upper body free and active. Both sources agree on the key details, though the Guardian provides additional context, such as the snakeās blindness and the rarity of such incidents, while the ABC highlights the venomless bite coinciding with World Snake Day.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A woman in her 60s was bitten by an eastern brown snake on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail near Burringbar in the Tweed Shire
- The snake was two-metre-long and became entangled in her bike chain
- The incident occurred yesterday (Wednesday) about 1pm
- The woman was bitten on the thigh and taken to Tweed Valley Hospital in stable condition
- The woman was released from hospital early today (Thursday morning)
- The snake was euthanased after being disentangled due to injuries, including a pre-existing eye injury
- Snake catcher Sarah Mailey was called to the scene and pinned the snakeās head to prevent further bites
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The bite failed to deliver venom, described as a 'lucky day' coinciding with World Snake Day
- The Northern NSW Local Health District confirmed her release from hospital early today
- The snakeās mid-section was trapped in the chain, but the top half was free and 'very active'
- The snake had a pre-existing eye injury and possibly did not see the bike approaching
- The snake was described as highly venomous and the worldās second most venomous snake
- The bite was a 'dry bite,' meaning venom did not enter the womanās bloodstream
- The snake was blind in its left eye, contributing to the incident
- Cooler weather played a role in slowing the snakeās reflexes
- Sarah Mailey mentioned she had spoken to a friend who had experienced similar incidents 'a couple of times' over 31 years
- Eastern brown snakes are often confused with harmless species like keelback snakes or brown tree snakes
- Snakes are attracted to the underside of the concrete path for burrows and rodents
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC states the incident occurred 'yesterday' and 'about 1pm,' while the Guardian specifies 'about 1pm on Wednesday,' but both align on the timing otherwise
- The ABC does not mention the snake being blind in its left eye, while the Guardian explicitly states this detail
Source Articles
Cyclist bitten by brown snake caught in her bike chain
The woman, in her 60s, was riding on a northern NSW rail trail when she ran over a two-metre snake that became trapped then bit her.
Snake in a chain: lucky escape for Australian woman after bite from deadly eastern brown caught in bike wheel
Woman in her 60s was riding on popular cycling trail in northern NSW when she ran over the two-metre-long eastern brown snake, one of the worldās most venomous A woman in her 60s is recovering after being bitten by a two-metre-long eastern brown snake that had become entangled in her bike chain in regional Australia. She was riding on the northern rivers rail trail near Burringbar, in the Tweed shire in northern New South Wales, when she ran over the snake. Continue reading...