South African Steve Irwin spoke about a near-death experience with a snake two years before he died from the deadly Green Mamba bite

South African Steve Irwin spoke about a near-death experience he encountered with a snake just two years before he died from a fatal Green Mamba bite.

Graham ‘Dingo’ Dinkleman died last Saturday from cobra venom, after revealing two years ago that he was severely allergic to the venom.

Speaking to You magazine in January 2022, Dingo recalled shooting a documentary in the Amazon rainforest in South America in 2019 before learning of his fatal allergy.

On February 28, the animal lover had returned to his base camp in the middle of the jungle before he noticed a small brown snake with orange eyes.

Thinking it was just a small and harmless reptile, Dingo went to take a photo of it before he and the crew realized it was a venomous leopard water snake.

The nature lover almost died in 2019 after being bitten by a snake while filming a documentary in the Amazon rainforest

Dingo had known for fifteen years that he was allergic to the venom found in Cobras and Mambas

He and his colleague retrieved the snake from the water before it bit his friend five or six times.

‘He didn’t respond. No swelling, no pain, nothing,” Dingo recalled.

But when he tried to grab the snake so he could take a bite, the reptile sunk its teeth into him too.

Dingo recalled that the bite didn’t feel too painful at first, so he left it there while he continued taking pictures.

Then he started feeling lightheaded and dizzy, telling the magazine, “I knew immediately I was going into anaphylactic shock.

“I know that I am highly allergic to extinct venom found in cobras and mambas.”

Dingo said he had been allergic to this type of venom for 15 years, but did not know at the time that it could be found in a leopard water snake.

Moments later he fell to the ground and couldn’t catch his breath.

“I was dying in the middle of the jungle,” he said to You.

Dingo’s life was saved that day thanks to the quick action of the film crew and the doctor on site.

“I would have finished in a minute and a half to two minutes if I hadn’t had huge amounts of adrenaline pumping into my veins,” he said.

He recalled thinking only about his family in what he thought were his last moments, and said he wanted to see his children married.

Dingo was bitten by a Green Mamba about a month ago and went into anaphylactic shock after having an allergic reaction to the venom (photo)

Dingo’s YouTube channel is full of videos of him handling dangerous reptiles including cobras, black mambas, vipers, pythons and crocodiles

The father-of-three, from Pietermaritzburg, was bitten by the snake about a month ago and went into anaphylactic shock after having an allergic reaction to the venom

Those thoughts forced him to fight the poison and cling to life as he vowed to embrace the second chance he had been given.

Tragically, the father-of-three, from Pietermaritzburg, was bitten by a Green Mamba about a month ago and went into anaphylactic shock after suffering an allergic reaction to the venom.

His wife Kirsty said he fell into an induced coma while being treated in an intensive care hospital.

While he was under heavy sedatives it was hoped his body would recover, but Kirsty later confirmed the tragic news of his death.

Tributes have been pouring in for Dingo, with his wife Kirsty saying: ‘Dingo has fought incredibly hard during this very difficult period.

“We know he fought to be here with us and we are so grateful for this.

“Sadly, despite his strength and resilience, my beloved husband passed away peacefully today surrounded by his family.”

Thanking everyone for their support, Kirsty said: ‘Today (Saturday) marks one month since the incident, and we have felt so much comfort and love through your messages and prayers from all over the world.’

Dingo became popular for his daring rescues of dangerous reptiles and had amassed more than 100,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 600,000 Instagram fans.