A Queensland, Australia resident identified as Jerromy Brookes, 47, succumbed to the venom of an Eastern Brown Snake on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The Billabong Sanctuary Townsville recognizes this snake as the world’s second most venomous, and it bit Brookes multiple times on his left arm.
Brookes, who lacked professional training in snake handling, was responding to a call from a family member about a snake at a nearby childcare facility. While trying to capture the reptile, it bit him thrice. Despite the bites, Brookes managed to contain the snake in a bag and drove back to his home in Deeragun, Townsville, to tell his wife about the ordeal.
In response to Brookes’ condition upon his return, his wife began administering first aid, including CPR, but he lost consciousness. Paula Marten, the acting director of the Townsville district in Queensland, stressed the importance of staying calm and applying basic first aid in such situations. Even so, paramedics, who arrived at Brookes’ home around 3 p.m., could not prevent him from going into cardiac arrest.
Later in the evening, Brookes was declared dead at the Townsville University Hospital. His passing is the first recorded Australian death from a snake bite in 2024. This incident aligns with a report from the Queensland Ambulance highlighting six snake bite occurrences in the area within the last 48 hours.
The venom of Eastern Brown Snakes is potent enough to cause death within minutes by interfering with blood clotting and damaging blood vessels. This results in increased blood pressure and could lead to collapse.
According to evolutionary toxicologist Timothy Jackson of Melbourne University’s Australian Venom Research Unit, a bite victim may experience cardiovascular collapse within 30 minutes of the bite. He recommends bite victims to stay still, administer first aid, and try to keep their heart rate low, particularly in remote areas.
Snake experts warn untrained individuals to avoid interacting with snakes. Professional snake catcher Ben Avery advises against meddling with Eastern Brown Snakes and recommends contacting a professional snake handler. He warns that the neurotoxic venom of these snakes can affect muscles, the heart, and other organs.
Analysis from the University of Melbourne indicates that brown snakes were implicated in 23 of Australia’s 35 snake bite-related deaths from 2000 to 2016. The research also found that snake bite victims in Australia are predominantly male and bite incidents peak during warmer seasons.
The Eastern Brown Snake, known for its medium size, slender build, and moderate head size, usually dwells in woodlands, scrublands, and savannah grasslands, mainly in eastern and southeastern Australia.
This species is particularly active during the spring and fall seasons.
The community is mourning the loss of a protective father who tried to safeguard young children from a deadly snake.