In a terrifying and unusual experience, Australian cyclist Andy Barlow survived after being bitten by an Australian brown snake while cycling through a forest. Fortunately, the bite was found to be non-venomous, also known as a “dry bite”.
The cycling adventure gone wrong
Andy Barlow was riding his mountain bike and was abruptly stopped when he felt something hit his leg and rear wheel. Initially, Barlow thought a stick was stuck in his rear wheel.
“But then I felt something on my leg and the back wheel stopped. When I got off the bike, I saw a brown snake wrapped around my back wheel! I knew immediately that I had been bitten and I lay down in the shade,” the cyclist shared in his account published on Instagram.
Immediate help and recovery
Fortunately, Barlow was not alone during the incident. Two other men who were also cycling in the area arrived within a minute of the incident. After identifying a bleeding bite mark on the man’s leg, they provided first aid before emergency services were notified.
“It took an hour for the paramedics to arrive. They carried me on a stretcher to the ambulance and to the hospital in Geelong. I had to spend the night in the hospital and do a lot of blood tests. It turned out that there was no poison in my bloodstream. Apparently, 90% of snake bites are dry bites,” Barlow explained, appreciative of the frightening experience.
The Australian brown snake: one of the deadliest snakes in the world
The Australian brown snake is considered one of the most venomous snakes in the world, making Barlow particularly lucky to escape the situation without serious complications. Bites from this snake are known to cause paralysis or death if not treated quickly.