A homeowner in Queensland, Australia, received a shocking surprise when he returned to find two large snakes had crashed through his ceiling and were slithering around his house.
David Tate discovered one snake in his bedroom and another in the living room on Monday. The reptiles weighed a combined 22kg (3.4 stone). Snake catcher Steven Brown described them as being of "exceptional size".
It is believed the two male snakes may have been fighting over a female snake that has not yet been located. Mr Tate said he had previously seen snakes basking on his roof.
"When I came back... there was a large slab [of ceiling] on the kitchen table," he told The Courier-Mail. After seeing the damage, he searched the house and found the animals. He called a snake catcher, and the ordeal was over "pretty quickly".
Mr Brown from North Brisbane Snake Catchers and Relocation told the BBC: "These two were of exceptional size compared to the common size that's usually come across." He added that the breeding season has just begun, and snakes will become more active as temperatures rise.
Mr Brown advised that if people encounter a snake, they should stand still and let it move on, as snakes do not see humans as a threat. "All snakes want to do is escape any threat of danger," he said.
