‘They’re on the move’: Urgent warning issued after two men and a woman from the same town are bitten by snakes at their homes in just 12 hours
- Three people were bitten by snakes in Townsville within 12 hours of each other
- Two men and one woman were rushed to hospital and are currently recovering
- Paramedics warned that snakes are on the move as we head into summer
Experts have issued an urgent warning after three people suffered serious snake bites and were rushed to hospital within 12 hours of each other in the same town.
The three people were all bitten in the north Queensland city of Townsville this week.
Paramedics are warning ‘snakes are on the move’ as we head into the warmer summer months.
Experts have issued an urgent warning after three people suffered serious snake bites and were rushed to hospital within 12 hours of each other in the same town (stock image)
‘Take extra care to avoid snakes in hot months. They are on the move,’ Queensland Ambulance service supervisor Ross Macdonald told The Courier Mail.
He said the eastern brown, the inland and coastal taipan, and the death adder are all found in Queensland and are some of the most venomous in the world.
The three snake bite victims were a man in his 30s, a woman from Mount Louisa in the eastern suburbs, and a man in his 20s.
Two of the patients were rushed to Townsville Hospital where they are recovering and the third is recovering in Ingham Hospital.
It is not known what species of snake bit the three victims.
‘Most snake bites occur on a lower limb. Many happen when residents are trying to kill or move a snake from a location,’ Mr Macdonald said.
‘If you witness a snake bite call triple-0 immediately. Keep the patient calm as possible, lay them down, don’t wash snakebite. Cover the site with pressure bandage, splint and immobilise.’
‘Most snake bites occur on a lower limb. Many happen when residents are trying to kill or move a snake from a location,’ QLD paramedic spokesperson Ross Macdonald said