Hero dad bitten by one of Australia’s deadliest snakes recalls terrifying moment when he saw his two-year-old toddler run towards something ‘flare up’ at her: ‘Better me than her’
- Adelaide father bitten by brown snake
- He saved his two-year-old from an attack
- Vader praised a hero for his quick thinking
A heroic father recalls the desperate moment when he threw himself between a deadly brown snake and his two-year-old daughter.
Jake Coombe, from Tailem Bend, about an hour’s drive east of Adelaide, saved his daughter Alba from the bite on Monday, but eventually fell victim to the reptile and had to be rushed to hospital.
The couple had come home from an outing and Mr Coombe began unpacking while his daughter played in the hallway.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the child had seen something in the garage doorway and was going to investigate.
Little Alba had locked eyes with an eastern brown snake, a highly venomous species of snake whose bite can kill small children in just minutes.
With lightning speed, the brave father grabbed his daughter when the snake struck.
When he got his daughter to safety, the reptile clamped onto his foot and gave him a “dry bite” – meaning no venom was released.
Jake Coombe, of Tailem Bend, about an hour’s drive east of Adelaide, saved the life of his two-year-old daughter Alba (pictured being treated for his snakebite) on Monday
Eastern brown snakes are highly venomous, with enough venom to kill a small child
Mr Coombe, who spent a night in hospital, said he continues to think about what could have happened to his daughter had he arrived just a second late.
“Maybe it would have been a different story if Alba had come in — she could have picked it up and wouldn’t have gotten away so quickly,” he shared The messenger.
“Better me than her, that’s for sure.”
Facebook users were quick to applaud the brave dad for his quick thinking.
‘Well done mate. That is a loving, courageous act. Get well soon,” one man wrote.
‘What a great father. Doing his job to protect his little girl,” said another.
‘Great dad. Deserves a beer or two,’ commented a third.
Terrifying footage from Snake Hunters Australia showed an eastern brown snake flattening its body to nearly half its original width and sliding under a door frame
Residents along the Murray River were recently warned by the SES to be on high alert for snakes as they move out of flooded areas.
The close call in South Australia comes just days after a snake was seen flattening itself to squeeze under a door of a Melbourne home.
Terrifying footage showed an eastern brown snake flattening its body to nearly half its original height and slithering under a door frame.
Experts recommend buying draft excluders for exterior doors and making sure all doors fit snugly against the ground to keep the reptiles out.