"Reckless": South Africans Chime In as Barefoot Man Wrestles Angry Black Mamba in Viral Video

• A video of a barefoot man wrestling with an angry black mamba has gone viral, sparking widespread shock and concern
• The gent attempted to capture the highly venomous snake using a stick and his bare hands, despite warnings from onlookers, and caused panic
• The clip has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising the man's bravery and others criticising his reckless behaviour and emphasising the importance of safety and calling professionals when dealing with dangerous wildlife

Bathong! Mzansi was left stunned after a video of a barefoot man wrestling with an angry black mamba surfaced online.

The clip, which has since drawn wide attention, shows the daring man attempting to capture the highly venomous snake using nothing more than a stick and his bare hands.

A species of extremely poisonous snake that is a member of the Elapidae family is the black mamba. A portion of sub-Saharan Africa is where it originated. It is also the second-longest venomous snake after the king cobra. It was first formally described by Albert Günther in 1864. Mature specimens typically grow to a length of 3 m, but they typically surpass 2 m.

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Barefooted man wrestles with an angry black mamba

The video, shared by Jared Flanagan on Facebook, shows the man who is confronting the snake as a small group of onlookers shouted in alarm. One person can be heard warning him, “He’s gonna bite,” but the man, clearly nervous yet determined, responded with a firm “Nope” before proceeding.

Despite his calm reply, the tension was obvious as the snake fiercely resisted his attempts, thrashing and striking in defence.

At one point, the man gripped the reptile with one hand while still trying to control it with the stick, a move that left those watching gasping in disbelief. The black mamba, known as one of Africa’s deadliest snakes, continued to fight back, making the moment even more nerve-racking.

Jared Flanagan, who posted the clip, expressed how he felt about the snake encounter with the man by saying:

"Okay, let's start with the no shoes boet, then the fact it's a black mamba!! I wanted to laugh, but at the same time, cry!! This oke almost got tagged like 3 times. Either he is freaking good or had a few brannas in there."

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Social media users expressed mixed reactions to the footage. Some hailed the man’s bravery, comparing him to professional snake catchers, while others criticised the risky act, warning that one wrong move could have ended in tragedy.

The barefoot man’s daring actions may have earned him temporary applause, but the video that was published on 15 August 2025 has also sparked conversations about the importance of safety and calling professionals when encountering dangerous wildlife. It is also unclear where the incident took place.

Watch the video of the man and the snake below:

People react to the snake and the man's antics

Mzansi netizens flooded the comments section with mixed reactions. Some expressed pure terror, and more.

Lance Cohen said:

"Tailing a snake as prehensile as a black mamba and working with snakes without boots. Your death wish will be answered sooner than later."

Neil Jangle added:

"What a cowboy, no shoes, cigarette in mouth.... There is a reason why snake handlers and collectors are the ones most often bitten."

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Hein Cassin-Schoeman wrote:

"When you order your snake catcher of Temu."

O.J. Modikwe stated:

"Reckless."

Tsatsi Modise replied:

"Honestly, this old man was acting carelessly. He says it can't bite, but how many so-called experts were killed by these Mambas, numerous."

Frankie Marriott commented:

"Honestly speaking, this snake catcher is a master."

3 Snakes that stunned South Africans

• Briefly News previously reported that a video emerged showing a massive snake standing upright on a farm, appearing to survey its surroundings like a scene straight out of a wildlife documentary.
• A tense video circulating online has left viewers on edge after it showed a man caught in a frightening encounter with a snake.
• A standing snake was seen on the streets of Mzansi in a video that went viral on TikTok.

Source: Briefly News