Friendsssssss for life: Unbelievable moment a truck driver stops to help a snake cross the road
- Incredible moment a truck driver stops traffic to let gigantic carpet python pass
- Driver wears a high visibility vest and holds his arms outstretched to stop cars
- Comments on touching photo were divided, many sharing their hatred of snakes
- Expert snake handler says Australian’s fear of snakes is due to misconceptions
The incredible moment a thoughtful truck driver stopped to help a gigantic carpet python has been captured on camera.
The driver left his vehicle to supervise the oncoming traffic as the coastal carpet python slithered across the busy Queensland road.
The truck driver has been commended for his generous act of human kindness, after the image was posted to Facebook on Tuesday.
The kind truck driver supervised the oncoming traffic as the snake slithered across the busy Queensland road
In the photo the truck driver is wearing a high-visibility vest and holds his arms outstretched to attract the attention of oncoming traffic.
‘Aussie of the year right there’, one comment read.
‘I tried that with a Koala last year and got road rage. Good on him’, another said.
Many more Facebook users shared their dislike of snakes and described what they would have done in the truck drivers place.
‘Run over the rotten thing’, another encouraged.
‘Chop off it’s head with a shovel’, another said.
Glenn ‘Ozzie’ Lawrence (left) and colleague Blake ‘Ripcord’ (right) are expert snake handlers
One commentator called the snake ‘just a big speed bump’ while another commented ‘the only good snakes are dead ones’.
Expert snake handler Glenn ‘Ozzie’ Lawrence said the fear of snakes didn’t just exist in Australia but exists globally, with the vilification of snakes in the media to blame.
When uneducated people absorb false or exaggerated stories about snake attacks or snake chases, this is when misconceptions are formed, Mr Lawrence said.
The snake handler receives multiple call-outs every day to residents who have stumbled across a snake in their home or backyard.
The coastal carpet python (pictured) is a non-venomous snake
Mr Lawrence said after a non venomous snake has been captured, he will try and make the resident feel comfortable with the snake.
‘Yesterday I was called out to Jimboomba where a lady had found a green Common-Tree hatchling behind her bar fridge and was having a full blown anxiety attack.
Pictured: A green tree snake
‘After I caught the snake I held it and it wrapped itself around my arm and I showed her it wasn’t trying to bite me, and it wasn’t all the things that she feared.
‘By the time I left she was more understanding.’
Mr Lawrence said snake bites can only occur when people get within striking range of the reptile, which is 3-4 feet.
The snake handler said in his experience people have only been bitten by snakes if they’ve tried to relocate it themselves or accidentally stand on them.
Mr Lawrence said the coastal carpet python crossing the Queensland road would have had no foresight of the approaching vehicles.
‘The snake was lucky enough to have that gentleman in the area, he’s an absolute legend’, the snake handler said.