A woman in her 60s is recovering after being bitten on the thigh by a two-metre-long eastern brown snake that became entangled in her bicycle chain on a popular cycling trail in northern New South Wales. The incident occurred on the northern rivers rail trail near Burringbar, in the Tweed shire, at approximately 1pm on Wednesday. Paramedics transported the woman to Tweed Valley hospital in a stable condition, and she was discharged on Thursday morning, according to the Northern NSW local health district.
Challenging Extraction of the Snake
Snake catcher Sarah Mailey, who was called to the scene, described freeing the snake from the bike chain as highly challenging because its upper body remained completely free. “Its head wasn’t in the chain so it was free to be able to strike her leg,” Mailey said. The rider sustained a “dry bite”, meaning venom did not enter her bloodstream. Mailey eventually pinned the snake’s head while bystanders helped disentangle the chain. Police also attended to ensure public safety. The snake was euthanised due to injuries sustained in the ordeal.
Unique Circumstances Leading to the Bite
Mailey noted that snakes are often attracted to the underside of the concrete path for burrows and rodents. “In April, snakes start to look for where they’re going to spend their time and they move under there,” she said. The snake was also blind in its left eye, which likely contributed to the situation. “Given that he was probably just sitting there not moving, it wouldn’t have been something that she would have spotted,” Mailey added. Cooler weather also slowed the snake’s reflexes, preventing it from escaping. “If it was any other time of year and the snake wasn’t blind, it would have had energy and seen her coming and got out of the way,” she explained.
Misidentification of Eastern Brown Snakes
Eastern brown snakes are highly venomous and considered the world’s second most venomous snake. They are commonly found across eastern Australia, from northern Queensland to South Australia, and are the most common cause of fatal snake bites in the country, though deaths from any snake bite are rare. Mailey emphasised that eastern brown snakes are often misidentified by locals and holidaymakers, frequently confused with harmless species such as keelback snakes or brown tree snakes. “They definitely do come in all colours,” she said, noting she has caught red, silver, and jet black specimens.
Advice for Cyclists and Bushwalkers
Mailey urged caution for those encountering snakes on trails. “If you can see it from afar, stop and just wait for it to move off the path,” she advised. “If it’s not moving off the path because it’s sunbaking and can’t see you, pop off your bike and try to walk the furthest way around it you possibly can.”
