King tide brings snake danger | News

Kerryn Manifold And Amy Remeikis | 15th January 2009

A woman was allegedly bitten by a snake in the dunes at the Spit at Mooloolaba.

FORGET sharks. King tides and eroded beaches have forced beachgoers into new danger territory as one woman found out yesterday.

The 73-year-old woman approached lifeguards at Mooloolaba beach just before 1pm complaining of a “throbbing pain” in her hand.

Closer inspection revealed puncture wounds. A passing police patrol was alerted and an ambulance called.

Lifeguards and police gave the woman first aid and kept her calm while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

She was taken to Nambour General Hospital for observation, but council lifeguard Peter Mitchell said he suspected the snake either did not inject poison or was not venomous.

“Half an hour had passed (from when the woman suspected she had been bitten) and she was still all right,” Mr Mitchell said.

Doctors confirmed that while the woman received puncture wounds consistent with a snake bite, test results indicated there was no venom within the bite.

Just to be sure, a hospital spokeswoman said the tests would be repeated.

The injured woman thanked all involved in the incident for their “wonderful care”.

Mr Mitchell and authorities said her near miss should serve as a warning to beachgoers during snake season.

Many beachegoers hug the dunes, a known habitat for brown snakes and other reptiles.

Visitors to Sunshine Coast beaches were not the only ones experiencing close encounters of the snakey kind.

A 30-year-old man was bitten by what is believed to be a brown snake outside the Sheraton Resort on the Gold Coast yesterday.

The man was rushed to the Gold Coast Hospital from the Marina Parade address at Main Beach about 1.30pm.

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