KZN Woman Bitten by Black Mamba in Critical Condition, Mzansi Horrified: “I Will Never Live in KZN”

• A KwaZulu-Natal woman is in critical condition after being bitten by a black mamba at her home on the North Coast
• The incident left many reeling in horror, with numerous social media users praying for the woman’s speedy recovery
• A Durban snake catcher previously said mamba bites are extremely rare in the area, but he has removed several snakes from there
• Following the incident, the African Snakebite Institute spoke to Briefly News and discussed black mambas and their bites

KWAZULU-NATAL - A woman is fighting for her life after being bitten by a black mamba at her home on the north coast near Ballito.

The incident happened on Wednesday, 15 March and left many concerned. The woman had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital.

Samantha Meyrick of IPSS Medical Rescue said that the victim was treated on the scene before being taken to a medical facility in Durban for further treatment. According to TimesLIVE, a snake catcher caught the mamba afterwards.

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Following the incident, the African Snakebite Institute’s Ashley Kemp spoke exclusively to Briefly News and said despite a bad reputation, black mambas are shy snakes that try to avoid humans. However, if they are cornered, they won’t hesitate to bite.

Kemp said black mambas have a potent neurotoxic venom that can quickly affect breathing, therefore it's critically important to get victims to a hospital if bitten. If it's a confirmed black mamba bite, the use of a smart pressure bandage can be considered as well, as it slows the spread of venom via the lymphatic system.

When asked what to do if you spot a snake, Kemp said:

“If you do happen to see a snake in your garden or home, get someone to watch it from a safe distance of five metres or more and contact a competent snake remover. Keep children and pets well out of the way and keep an eye on where the snake is or goes - this will help the remover easily locate it and make the removal process easier.”

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Mzansi fearful as KZN woman bitten by black mamba

Nomtuse Mbere said:

“KZN and mambas - I could never live there.”

Thabiso Shadrack commented:

“It is shocking really, I hope she recovers.”

EmKay Marstown McAdam posted:

“In KZN it's very easy to get into a critical condition.”

Daniel DX Stock wrote:

“Scary stuff. Hope she pulls through.”

Kholo Felo Kekana added:

“After watching the Snakes in the City show and seeing Simon taking out black mambas and spitting cobras inside people’s houses, I will never live in KZN.”

Mamba bites are rare, says Durban snake catcher

Meanwhile, Durban snake catcher Nick Evans previously said mamba bites are “high-profile”. According to IOL, in January, he said that while numerous mambas live within the area, he has not recorded a snake bite.

Evans said there had been a few bites in other parts of the province. He added that he had been called to remove several black mambas from areas in Durban.

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Python loose in Johannesburg estate sends tenant into panic

Briefly News also reported that a warning message from an estate in Johannesburg has made a tenant panic. Naledi Mpanya shared a Twitter post of the e-mail they received from management about the marauding serpent.

"If anyone knows who the snake belongs to [or] escaped from, please let us know," read the statement.

The message also further warned that although pythons aren’t venomous, they could still be dangerous to children.

Source: Briefly News