When Koumala State School in Queensland celebrated its 100th anniversary, a man was attacked by a brown snake.
A man in his 60s acted quickly to save his friend – but died after being bitten himself.
– It’s no one’s fault, it’s just a tragic event, says Ambulance Director Claire Bertenshaw to Australian ABC.
Yesterday Koumala State School in the small community of Mackay in Queensland, Australia celebrated 100 years. During the celebration, one of the visitors, a 65-year-old man, was attacked by a poisonous brown snake.
The man’s friend, a man in his 60s, was also present at the celebration. He acted quickly to remove the snake.
“The snake was around his friend’s leg and he helped to remove it,” says Ambulance Chief Claire Bertenshaw to the Australian ABC.
Bitten in the arm and chest
The man in his 60s was himself bitten by the snake and quickly suffered cardiac arrest, according to the channel.
– Despite heroic measures from both people on the scene and paramedics, unfortunately the man could not be revived, says Claire Bertenshaw.
The circumstances surrounding the death are not yet fully clear. According to the first incident reports, the man must have been bitten in both the arm and the chest.
– It’s nobody’s fault, it’s just a tragic event, says the ambulance manager.
– I’m sure your natural instinct when you see a snake is to help the person you’re with, and I can understand exactly why this man did that.
“Sends shockwaves through society”
The dead man’s friend was also bitten in connection with the incident, but was able to be discharged from the hospital on Sunday.
After the death, the school wrote on Facebook:
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Please respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.”
Mackay regional councilor Karen May has also commented on the tragedy.
– It is a small community in the countryside and this is something that sends shock waves through the community, she says.