A teenage girl has survived a deadly cobra bite after being rushed to hospital when the venomous snake sank its fangs into her arm as she slept.
The incident occurred in the town of Lephalale in the South African province of Limpopo as the teenager Diane Nel was sleeping.
Diane’s mother Susanna Nel says her daughter was woken up by the pain from the bite, and she then asked a friend to check if there was a snake in the bed.
Nel says the friend found the snake, a Mozambique spitting cobra (Naja mossambica), and the reptile spat at him. The Mozambique spitting cobra is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa.
Diane was rushed to a state hospital but upon finding there was no anti-venom stored there the teenager was taken to a private facility.
She was given eight vials of anti-venom for the bite before being transferred back to the state hospital.
The snake was also captured and a picture posted online where social media users lined up to demand it be killed, although officials said this would not happen as it was a protected species.
In other photos of the incident, the wound can be clearly seen on Diane’s arm just below her elbow. Dried blood can be seen around the puncture wound which is surrounded by severe bruising.
Local media report the teenager’s family are now raising funds to pay for her to have an operation at the MediClinic private hospital.
The family have reportedly raised 1,050 ZAR (59 GBP) of the 20,000 ZAR (1,126 GBP) they are hoping to reach.
The Mozambique spitting cobra is most active during the night hours and its venom can cause severe tissue damage as well as blisters and swelling. Venom to the eyes can cause blindness or impaired vision.
Diane’s exact age has not been reported.
Donations can be made to:
Child Medi Organization
FNB, Cheque
Acc no: 626 325 810 56
Branch Code: 250655
Swift code: firnzajj
Ref: Diane
info@childmedi.org
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Story By: Gabriel Zamfir, Sub-Editor:Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
