An Aussie woman has been hailed for holding her nerve and staying perfectly still as a snake emerged from bushes and then slithered between her feet.
Kathleen shared that she was holidaying on popular Queensland tourist hotspot K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, when the snake started to unravel on the side of the track while she, her daughter and grandson were walking.
While many might feel the urge to run, Kathleen stood still while the snake made its way between her legs, and even ‘caressed’ her toe.
“It wasn’t an possibility to maneuver by that time,” she advised Yahoo News Australia. At that second, Kathleen stated “so many things” have been working by means of her thoughts, together with alerting her household to the hazard, how lovely the snake was and even saying just a few expletives in her head.
Kathleen’s quick-thinking daughter snapped a picture of the second the snake went by means of her legs. “I was expecting it to go across the path, but it decided to use me as a guide-rail,” she says.
With a background in bush regeneration, Kathleen says she is aware of it’s greatest apply to offer snakes proper of approach. “It’s not my first snake encounter, but definitely my most intimate,” she says.
When the snake was a protected distance away, Kathleen says she jumped away as quick as she might. “I had so much adrenaline in my system as soon as it went into the bushes completely I sprang for the beach and screamed,” she laughs.
Hailed for her bravery
Sharing the post online, many were quick to praise her for her “nerves of steel”. “You did an awesome job standing still, I would have had a constant trickle of wee running down my legs,” commented one person.
“Well done for keeping a cool head Kathleen,” said another.
“You have nerves of steel!! I hope I could trust myself to stay still despite my head screaming ‘run’,” stated a 3rd.
But Kathleen argues she didn’t do something particular. “I’m sure anyone could do the same thing, I was nothing to the snake as long as I stayed still and didn’t give it any reason to notice me,” she says. “We have to remember we are not on the food list and we are rather insignificant to them.”
What kind of snake is it?
Hoping to get an identification for the snake, Kathleen shared it to social media. Unfortunately, experts weren’t able to ascertain what species it was from the grainy images.
K’gari, or Fraser Island, is home to 19 different kinds of snake and many other native wildlife like dingoes, wallabies, spiders and birds. While many, like the green tree snake are harmless, others are highly venomous including the death adder and eastern brown snake.
What to do if a snake approaches
If you come across a snake, your first instinct may be to run, but that is actually not the best thing to do.
Snake expert Ranger Jackie, from Hands on Wildlife, previously told Yahoo the best advice she gives is to stand still, just like Kathleen.
“Snakes don’t have very good eyesight, so if you stand still the snake won’t feel threatened or scared,” she stated.
“And they will be less likely to bite, and you basically disappear to the snake.”
She then prompt you slowly again away from the snake, so that you don’t startle it or journey over.
Jackie additionally advises to deal with all snakes you come throughout as venomous and never try to establish the snake, as a substitute simply go away them alone.
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