Driver fights off deadly snake on highway

Imagine driving along a regional Queensland highway alone when you spot an angry brown snake slithering towards your leg.

With his heart-racing uncontrollably, 27-year-old Gladstone man ‘Jimmy’ experienced just that while driving at 100km/hour on the Dawson Highway west of Calliope around 5pm on June 15.

“I’m driving along at 100, and I just started to brake,” Jimmy said.

“…And the more I moved my legs… it just started to wrap around me. Its head just started striking at the (driver’s seat) chair, between my legs.”

Jimmy used a seat belt and a work knife he had in the ute to fight off the snake off while trying to stop the car.

Fearing he had already been bitten and his life was in danger, Jimmy believed he had no other option but to kill the snake and take it with him to hospital.

A local road policing officer spotted the utility travelling at 123km/h and quickly intercepted it.

Although the traffic officer had heard his fair share of excuses for speeding, he soon realised this was not just another colourful tale and promptly sought medical assistance.

Paramedics attended the scene and it was determined that Jimmy had not actually been bitten by the snake but was certainly suffering shock from the ordeal.

“It was pretty terrifying, I’ve never been so happy to see red and blue lights,” Jimmy said.

The eastern brown snake, is a highly venomous snake and one of the most deadliest in the world.

While this was a particularly unique situation, snakes are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and people should not attempt to capture or injure wildlife in Queensland. More information about what you should do if you encounter a snake on your property can be found here.

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