A homo in Texas had to be airlifted to hospital for contiguous discussion after being bitten by a rattlesnake – after he ’d already killed it and cut off its head teacher .

It was touch and go for the first 24 hours , but after an parking brake eggbeater drive and 26 doses of anti - venom , just over a calendar week later the humans is now go back .

It all began on Memorial Day at the rest home of Jennifer Sutcliffe and her husband , near Corpus Christi , Southern Texas .

They were out doing curtilage study when Mr Sutcliffe spotted the 1.2 - metre - recollective ( 4 - foot ) rattler – which is quite common in Texas – and , using his power shovel , killed it by decapitating it . What happened next carry him by surprisal .

As he pluck up the severed forefront to dispose of the remains it “ fleck ” him , releasing its potentially fatal dose of venom . Mrs Sutcliffe drove her husband to hospital but he start suffering seizure on the elbow room . She meet an ambulance halfway before a helicopter was called to get him to infirmary quicker . His wife told local stationKIITVthat doctors told her he may not survive .

Luckily he was give the anti - maliciousness in clip and is say to be in retrieval , though still with slimly subvert kidney mathematical function . expert , however , are warning if you see a Snake River you do n’t have   to kill it , and you definitely should n’t dilute its head off .

“ That ’s kind of a classic mistake . hoi polloi do n’t realize that reptiles and mammals are wire differently , ” Leslie Boyer , antivenom doctor and founding Director of the University of Arizona VIPER Institute , toldGizmodo . “ The head end of a cut off - up rattler can continue to function , including the venom glands , for a long time afterward and , in fact , the other one-half stay to work . It ’ll rise and rattle . ”

It ’s a strange but true fact that snake header can actually still move after beheading ( you’re able to see it in actionhere , although be monish , it ’s not for the faint - hearted ) , though no one is really sure how long after end this preserve . Some reports suggest up to 12 hours is potential .

Although rattlesnake bitescan be deadlyand postulate immediateemergency aesculapian attention , of the 7,000 multitude bitten a yr in the US , between five and 12 people pass .

To be on the secure side , if you come across a snake , avoid it ( it will be desperately seek to do the same ) and sure enough do n’t geld its head off . “ It ’s cruel to the animal and it bequeath you with a smaller part that ’s poisonous to pick up , ” Boyer said .

Do n’t attempt to be an American submarine , this is one fight you ca n’t win , even if you think you ’ve already kill your opposition . Call somebody   – animal control , the fire department , the law   – who knows what they ’re doing instead , it will be safer for all involved ( including the snake ) .