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List of fatal snake bites in Australia

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The Eastern brown snake is responsible for around 60% of deaths caused by snakebite in Australia.[1]

Although Australian snakes can be very venomous, comparatively little is known about the protein compositions of venoms from Australian snakes, compared to those of Asia and America. Wide access to antivenom and adequate medical care has made deaths exceedingly rare with only a few fatalities each year. Australian snakes possess potent venom: 5 of the world's top 10 most venomous snakes live in Australia.[2]

Number of snake bites

The estimated incidence of snakebites annually in Australia is between 3 and 18 per 100,000 with an average mortality rate of 0.03 per 100,000 per year.[3] Between 1979 and 1998 there were 53 deaths from snakes, according to data obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.[4]

Between 1942 and 1950 there were 56 deaths from snakebite recorded in Australia. Of 28 deaths in the 1945-49 period, 18 occurred in Queensland, 6 in New South Wales, 3 in Western Australia and 1 in Tasmania.[5] A Queensland government occupational health publication[6]

A data visualization about fatal snake bites in Australia since 1986 (showing year, age/gender of victim, location and snake type)

Below is a list of fatal snake bites that occurred in Australia in reverse chronological order. The list omits snake bite-related deaths where the actual cause of death was an unprovoked snake bite. Omitted incidents include cases where someone died from falling after receiving a bite, or where a person deliberately provoked or handled a snake.

2010s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
Nathan Scattini, 45yo male 17 March 2019 Unknown Champion Lakes, Western Australia; Nathan Scattini telephoned emergency services, saying he had been bitten by a snake while bushwalking in the Kelmscott area. Emergency services were unable to locate Scattini or make further contact and a search operation commenced. Police located Scattini's body in bushland the following Tuesday.[7]
Callum Edwards, 20yo male 29 December 2018 Tiger Snake Lardner, 5 km south-west of Warragul, Victoria; Bitten whilst attending the Beyond the Valley music festival on 29 December 2018 and was airlifted to hospital, where he died on 1 January 2019. His death was initially suspected to have occurred from a drug overdose, however medical staff later found traces of tiger snake venom in his system.[8]
Mary Nicholls, 83yo female 9 October 2018 Koorda, Western Australia[9]
Harry Evans, 23yo male 6 October 2018 Unknown Sea Snake species Offshore, near Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory; First sea snake fatality in Australia since 1935.[10]
46yo male 19 April 2018 Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis Deeragun, Queensland[11]
Sinita Martin, 27yo female 5 February 2018 Unknown Meekatharra, Western Australia; The 27-year-old victim's unborn baby also died as a result of the snake bite.[12]
24yo male 10 January 2018 Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis (Unconfirmed) Tamworth, New South Wales[13]
David Pitt, 77yo male 26 December 2016 Coastal Taipan

Oxyuranus scutellatus

Yorkeys Knob, north of Cairns, Queensland[14]
Wayne Cameron, 54yo male 10 April 2016 Coastal Taipan Snake Oxyuranus scutellatus Rockhampton, Queensland[15]
6yo female 5 February 2016 Eastern brownsnake Pseudonaja textilis Walgett, New South Wales[16]
62yo male 25 October 2015 Brown Snake or Taipan (Unconfirmed) Townsville, Queensland[17]
75yo female 17 August 2015 Dugite Snake South Fremantle, Western Australia[18]
Dane Kowalski, 27yo male December 2014 Unknown 95 km south of Coober Pedy, South Australia; presumed bitten[19]
27yo male 6 November 2014 Tiger Snake Jarrahmond, Victoria[20]
41yo male 8 October 2014 Western brown snake Pseudonaja mengdeni Laverton, Western Australia[21]
59yo female 2 November 2013 Unknown Glen Oak, New South Wales; most likely bitten by an Eastern brown snake Pseudonaja textilis[22]
Karl Berry, 26yo 23 April 2013 Western brown snake Pseudonaja nuchalis Darwin, Northern Territory[23]
60yo male 10 March 2013 Stephen's Banded Snake Hoplocephalus stephensii Kalang, New South Wales[24]
Colin Field, 80yo male 3 December 2012 Brown Snake Wilsons Plains, Queensland[25]
Andrew Vaughan, 57yo male 1 November 2012 Coastal Taipan Yeppoon, Queensland
Ashley Leishman, 26yo male 8 October 2012 Eastern Brown Snake Miles, Queensland[26]
Andrew Smith, 35yo 17 November 2011 Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis Emerald, Queensland[27]
Narelle Pails, 42yo 2 November 2011 Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis Warwick, Queensland[28]
Ben Steers, 17yo 11 September 2011 Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis Warwick, Queensland
Michael Thorpe, 43yo male 26 November 2010 Western brown snake Pseudonaja nuchalis Gingin, Western Australia[29][30]

2000s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
60yo female 15 January 2009 Western brown snake Pseudonaja nuchalis Carnarvon, Western Australia[30]
Ron Siggins, 37yo male 2007 Whip snake Harcourt, Victoria[31]
Milena Swilks 2007 Eastern brown snake Rocky River, New South Wales; south of Armidale[32]
16yo boy January 2007 Eastern brown snake Whalan, New South Wales; bitten on hand, believed trek to find help in hot conditions may have advanced spread of venom[33]
Bevan Corbett, 20yo male New Year's Eve 2005/2006 Brown snake Cobar, New South Wales; bitten repeatedly while jogging.[34]

1990s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
Joey McGlashan, 7yo male 1999 Tiger Snake Kennett River, Victoria
Tony Patterson 1998 Tiger Snake High Wycombe, Western Australia
Michael Ross 1998 Desert Death Adder Broome, Western Australia[35]
Murray Plane, 33yo male 1 December 1997 Western brownsnake or gwardar (Pseudonaja mengdeni) Tarmoola Gold Mine, North of Leonora, Western Australia; Man inebriated and handling snake which he and his friends found in miners' quarters during the night of 1 December. Air-ambulanced to Royal Perth Hospital where he subsequently died on 4 December[36]
Richard Scott 6 February 1994 Northern death adder Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia[36]
31yo male 24 February 1993 Western Brown Snake or Gwardar (Pseudonaja mengdeni) Unwitnessed. Snake in bucket, victim found unconscious with head injuries. Assumed to have been bitten, resulting in a fall. Antivenom administered at Derby Hospital but with no improvement. Patient air-ambulanced to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where he died.[36]
50yo male 1993 Eastern Brown Bundaberg, Queensland

1980s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
33yo female 1989 Western Brown Carnarvon, Western Australia[35]
61yo female 1986 Western Brown Cervantes, Western Australia[35]

1950s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
Kevin Budden, 20yo male 28 July 1950 Coastal taipan Cairns, Queensland; specimen captured and subsequently milked by David Fleay in Melbourne to produce first antivenom.

1940s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
Norman James Boyd, 4yo male September 1946 Hampton, New South Wales; He was bitten while playing outside his home and later died after doctors failed to revive him. [37]
Miss Dorothy Vera Townson, 39yo female 1948 Tiger snake Pelion Hut, Overland Track, Tasmania; She had been bitten twice on the lower right leg by a snake, believed to be a tiger snake, about 11.30 am on Wednesday. The snake hung on and bruised her leg after the second strike. The punctures were lacerated and tourniquets applied, but the treatment was ineffective, and Miss Townson died at 4.30 am on Thursday.[38]
Miss Norma Wells 1940 Bitten while walking beside the Goulburn River, died later in hospital.[39]

1930s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
Luigi Valese, 4yo male 8 October 1936 Death Adder Mossman, Queensland; Bitten on his cane farm while in the fields with his father.[40]
Maso Fukami, 23yo male 24 October 1935 Sea Snake Offshore, near Bathurst Island, Northern Territory[41]
Mr Archibald Thompson, 54yo male 15 March 1934 Brown snake Greta, New South Wales; fatally bitten while in the bush [42]
Mrs. Mervyn Cole 1932 Horsham, Victoria; while fishing[43]
13yo male March 1932 Gosford, New South Wales[44]
25yo male August 1930 Brown snake near Ingham, Queensland[45]
11yo female February 1930 Death adder Toowoomba, Queensland[46]

1920s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comment
Colleera Telford, 3yo female 13 December 1920 Unknown Apollo Bay, Victoria; Bitten while at her parent's dairy farm. Puncture marks found on leg after death.
Charles McPherson December 1925 Tiger snake Molesworth, Tasmania; bitten while reading on a camping trip, died in hospital 12 hours later[47]

1910s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
Vogel boy 1917 Tintaldra, Victoria[48]
21yo male November 1915 Laverton, Victoria[49]
14yo male March 1910 Casterton, Victoria; was rabbiting with friends, bitten when put hand in a burrow to get a rabbit[50]
Howard Thomas 1910 Brown snake Queensland[51]

1900s

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
Hugh McDay 1909 Deloraine, Tasmania[52]
Walter Harden 1908 Maroubra, New South Wales[53]
Ronald Whitechurch 1908 Seymour, Victoria[54]
Frances McKnight 1907 Middle Harbour, New South Wales; snake bit her three times on ankle while gathering wild-flowers[55]
small boy November 1906 Yea, Victoria[56]
15yo boy October 1902 Tiger snake Coonong, New South Wales; bitten on the calf while bird-catching, died four hours later[57]
13yo girl November 1900 Bendigo, Victoria[58]

Before 1900

Name, age Date Species Location; Comments
74yo male farmer 1899 Tiger snake Kilmore, Victoria; bitten on little finger[59]
9yo boy 1899 Congbool station, Balmoral, Victoria[60]
young girl January 1899 Bruthen, Victoria; trod on snake while carrying parcel[61]
young girl 1898 Waikerie, South Australia; girl put her hand in a log that a rabbit ran into and was bitten by a snake[62]
8yo girl January 1896 Strzelecki, Victoria, near Korumburra; bitten while asleep[63]
8yo boy 1895 Tiger snake Inverary, New South Wales, near Bungonia; bitten while crossing a paddock barefooted[64]
10yo boy 6 July 1893 Tiger snake Stawell, Victoria[65]
unnamed Chinese gardener 1887 Wangaratta, Victoria; bitten on heel, died in hospital[66]
12yo boy 1878 Tiger snake Alexandra, Victoria; bitten while planting potatoes[67]
Mrs Falconer December 1875 Swan Hill, Victoria[68]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mirtschin, P.J.; R. Shineb; T.J. Niasa; N.L. Dunstana; B.J. Hougha; M. Mirtschina (November 2002). "Influences on venom yield in Australian tigersnakes (Notechis scutatus) and brownsnakes (Pseudonaja textilis: Elapidae, Serpentes)" (PDF). Toxicon. 40 (11): 1581–92. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(02)00175-7. PMID 12419509. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  2. ^ "Sub-cutaneous LD-50s". VenomDoc.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
  3. ^ Chippaux, JP (1998). "Snake-bites: appraisal of the global situation". Bull. World Health Organ. 76: 515–24. PMC 2305789. PMID 9868843.
  4. ^ Fatalities from Venomous Animals Australian Venom Research Unit
  5. ^ Swaroop, S; Grab, B. "Snakebite mortality in the world". Bull World Health Organ. 10: 35–76. PMC 2542029. PMID 13150169.
  6. ^ Preventing and Managing Snake Bites 2013 Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment
  7. ^ "Man's body found at Champion Lakes in search for snakebite victim". ABC News. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Mourners farewell snakebite victim". The Australian. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Grandmother dies after snake bite on Wheatbelt farm". The West Australian. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Sea snake bite causes first death in Australia in more than 80 years". ABC News. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Snake bite: Townsville man dies after being bitten by suspected Eastern Brown". The Courier-Mail. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Suspected snake bite kills pregnant woman, unborn baby in remote WA town of Meekatharra". ABC News. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Man, 24, dies after being bitten by a snake in Tamworth". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Man bitten by taipan in lounge room dies six days on". ABC News. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  15. ^ Zhanae Conway-Dodd (11 February 2016). "Snake catcher did own first aid after bite, died 50mins later". Daily Mercury. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  16. ^ Jean Kennedy (15 February 2016). "Emergency services issue snake bite warning after 6yo girl's death in north western NSW". ABC News. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  17. ^ Shanee Dobeson (26 October 2015). "Queensland man dies after being bitten by snake". www.mygc.com.au/. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Woman dies from suspected snake bite in Fremantle". ABC News. 17 August 2015.
  19. ^ "My son 'was killed by a snake' in SA Outback". www.adelaidenow.com.au. 14 March 2015.
  20. ^ "Workplace incidents claim seven lives in seven weeks". WorkSafe Victoria. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  21. ^ David Charlesworth & Liam Ducey (14 October 2014). "Man dead, two boys admitted to hospital after WA snake bites". WA Today. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  22. ^ "Woman bitten by a snake while gardening may not have realised, expert says". The Daily Telegraph. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  23. ^ Alyssa Betts (29 April 2013). "Hockey player dies after snake bite training". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  24. ^ Jessica Tapp (19 March 2013). "Snake bite kills man after NSW floods". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  25. ^ Brittany Vonow (3 December 2012). "Man, 80, bitten several times by brown snake at Boonah, south of Ipswich". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  26. ^ Brittany Vonow (1 January 2013). "Grieving dad makes plea to cut snake deaths across Queensland". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  27. ^ "Emerald man killed by brown snake". The Morning Bulletin. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  28. ^ Baskin, Brooke; Williams, Brian; Miles, Janelle (4 November 2011). "Warning of high deadly snake numbers as woman dies from snakebites at Wheatvale near Warwick". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 18 December 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Nicolas Perpitch (1 December 2010). "Western Brown Snake Bite Kills Gingin Man". The Australian. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  30. ^ a b Katherine Fenech (1 December 2010). "Western Brown Snake Bite Kills Gingin Man". Watoday.com.au. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  31. ^ Harrison, Dan (16 April 2007). "'Harmless' snake proves deadly". The Age.
  32. ^ "Tragic snake bite death, died 2 hours after being bitten". The Daily Telegraph. 12 March 2007.
  33. ^ "Snake bite victim dies". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 January 2007.
  34. ^ "UNSW Mining Engineering". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  35. ^ a b c "Snakebite deaths in Western Australia 1980-2010". Members.iinet.net.au. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  36. ^ a b c "Snakebite deaths in Western Australia 1980-2018". Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  37. ^ "Child dies of snake bite". The Canberra Times. 16 September 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ "Woman dies in Mountain hut from snakebite before aid arrives". The Mercury. Tasmania. 12 January 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. ^ "Fatal snake bite". The Argus. Victoria. 15 October 1940. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. ^ "Bitten by snake". The Northern Miner. Queensland. 12 October 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ "Sea snake bite causes first death in more than 80 years". ABC News. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  42. ^ "Fatal snake bite, Newcastle". The Northern Star. New South Wales. 16 March 1934. p. 10. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. ^ "Fatal snake bite, Melbourne". The Canberra Times. 13 February 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. ^ "Fatal snake bite, Tense scene at inquest, Doctor's treatment questioned". The Canberra Times. 12 March 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ^ "Fatal Snake Bite, Cairns". The Canberra Times. 27 August 1930. p. 1. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  46. ^ "Fatal Snake bite, Boy bitten by Death Adder, Toowoomba". The Canberra Times. Vol. 4, no. 733. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 February 1930. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  47. ^ "Death from snake bite, Camper and Tiger Snake". The Argus. 31 December 1925. p. 8. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  48. ^ "Fatal Snake bite Tallangatta". The Argus. 4 December 1917. p. 9. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  49. ^ "Death from snake-bite". The Argus. No. 21, 636. Victoria, Australia. 30 November 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  50. ^ "Fatal snake-bite, a schoolboy's death". The Argus. 22 March 1910. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  51. ^ "Fatal Snake-bite, Brisbane". The Argus. 20 January 1910. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  52. ^ "Fatal Snake bite, Deloraine". The Argus. 26 February 1909. p. 4. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  53. ^ "Fatal Snake-bite, Maroubra Bay". The Argus. 11 December 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  54. ^ "Snake bite, Seymour". The Argus. 7 December 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  55. ^ "Fatal snakebite, Middle Harbour". The Argus. 27 August 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  56. ^ "Boy dies from snakebite, Yea". The Argus. 14 November 1906. p. 8. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  57. ^ "Fatal case of snake-bite, Coonong". The Advertiser. South Australia. 1 November 1902. p. 7. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  58. ^ "Fatal Snake bite, Bendigo". The Argus. 26 November 1900. p. 9. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  59. ^ "Fatal snake bite, Kilmore". The West Australian. 31 March 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  60. ^ "A fatal snake bite, Balmoral". The Argus. 23 January 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  61. ^ "Fatal case of snake-bite, Bruthen". The Argus. 9 January 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  62. ^ "A fatal snake bite, Waikerie". The West Australian. Vol. 14, no. 3, 923. Western Australia. 24 September 1898. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  63. ^ "Fatal case of snake bite, child bitten while asleep". The West Australian. 14 January 1896. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  64. ^ "Fatal snake bite, Inverary". The Brisbane Courier. 16 February 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  65. ^ "Fatal case of snake-bite, Stawell". The Argus. 26 April 1893. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  66. ^ "Fatal case of snake bite, Wangaratta". The Argus. 25 February 1887. p. 9. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  67. ^ "Fatal snake bite, Alexandra". The Argus. 6 December 1878. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  68. ^ "The Fatal case of snake-poisoning at Swan Hill". The Argus. 10 December 1875. p. 10. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
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