Cape Town - A man is lucky to be alive after he was bitten by a Cape Cobra, while his attacker will be released on Monday.
The man was busy gardening at his Goodwood home on Saturday when the snake bit him.
Paramedics from Netcare 911 responded to find the man alive and in a stable condition.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was bitten on his hand.
He was rushed to hospital, but has since been discharged. The man is said to be recovering well at home.
A snake expert was called in to remove the 1.2 metre long snake from the man’s home.
The expert, Freddy Q, tells the Daily Voice the man was lucky to be alive after getting a “dry bite” from the cobra.
According to Freddy, this means that while the snake bit and sank its fangs into the man’s skin, it did not release its venom in time to penetrate the skin.
“We understand the man was bitten on the hand [and it] was a dry bite meaning there was no venom,” he said.
“It took me 45 minutes to find the snake which had travelled to a church in the street.
“I searched in the yard and couldn’t find it at the house.”
Freddy says the snake is currently still in his care and will be released near the Tygerberg Nature Reserve on Monday.
Another snake expert, John Marais, said Cape Cobras are extremely dangerous and will stand their ground when confronted.
Bites are often fatal and can result in suffocation due to respiratory collapse.