A 43-year-old man from Warmbad in the //Karas Region killed a snake but died hours later from the reptile’s bite.
Police yesterday said Benedictus Matroos was asked by neighbours to help kill a snake at their residence on Saturday around 19h00.
“He managed to kill the snake but was allegedly bitten in the process,” police said in a statement, adding that Matroos did not realise that he had been bitten.
Matroos returned to his home in the Namarust location and told his wife, Mina, that he had just killed a snake. His observant wife, however, suspected that there was something wrong with Matroos’ voice, because his speech was slurred. She then asked him if the snake had bitten him, and Matroos said it had not, while lying down on the bed. The wife allegedly inspected him and discovered some bite marks on his right arm. She called for medical assistance but Matroos died shortly thereafter.
Police suspect that Matroos was bitten by a bruinkapel, also known as the Cape Cobra or Yellow Cobra, which is found in Namibia, Botswana, Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, and the Free State in South Africa. The species is commonly found in dry sandy areas, semi-urban areas such as informal settlements, disused termite mounds or rodent burrows.
It has a very powerful and fast acting neurotoxic venom, stronger than any other cobra in Africa. Its bite is life threatening and is a medical emergency since it is responsible for the majority of snake-bite-related fatalities in its range.
There is, however, an anti-venom, which, although required in large amounts, is very effective.
Police yesterday said Benedictus Matroos was asked by neighbours to help kill a snake at their residence on Saturday around 19h00.
“He managed to kill the snake but was allegedly bitten in the process,” police said in a statement, adding that Matroos did not realise that he had been bitten.
Matroos returned to his home in the Namarust location and told his wife, Mina, that he had just killed a snake. His observant wife, however, suspected that there was something wrong with Matroos’ voice, because his speech was slurred. She then asked him if the snake had bitten him, and Matroos said it had not, while lying down on the bed. The wife allegedly inspected him and discovered some bite marks on his right arm. She called for medical assistance but Matroos died shortly thereafter.
Police suspect that Matroos was bitten by a bruinkapel, also known as the Cape Cobra or Yellow Cobra, which is found in Namibia, Botswana, Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, and the Free State in South Africa. The species is commonly found in dry sandy areas, semi-urban areas such as informal settlements, disused termite mounds or rodent burrows.
It has a very powerful and fast acting neurotoxic venom, stronger than any other cobra in Africa. Its bite is life threatening and is a medical emergency since it is responsible for the majority of snake-bite-related fatalities in its range.
There is, however, an anti-venom, which, although required in large amounts, is very effective.
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