king cobra | Veteran fireman in coma after snake bite

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king cobra | Veteran fireman in coma after snake bite

JOHOR BARU: Veteran fireman Mohd Safa Mausor has caught hundreds of snakes in his 30 years of service, but is now fighting for his life after being bitten by a king cobra.

The 50-year-old fireman attached to the Kota Tinggi Fire and Rescue Department is in the intensive care unit of the Sultan Ismail Hospital.

Recalling the incident, colleague Subory Md Isa, 40, said he and Mohd Safa rushed to a water treatment plant in Kota Tinggi after receiving a call at 12.37pm on Nov 10.

“The 3.35m-long cobra had gone into a pipe near the staff quarters. We used salt, hot water, sulphur and insecticide to flush it out,” he said, adding that after about 20 minutes, the snake’s tail was visible.

Subory used a pole with a noose to catch the snake by its tail but it started getting aggressive and he had to let go.

“Mohd Safa then tried to distract the snake but tripped and fell.

“The snake slithered towards his face but he managed to grab it by its head and both of us overpowered it.

“We put the snake inside a bag to take it to the station,” he added.

Mohd Safa did not realise that he had been bitten until about an hour later when he felt some discomfort.

“I dropped him off at the hospital before taking the snake back to the station,” he said, adding that he was told later in the evening that Mohd Safa had slipped into a coma.

Kota Tinggi fire station chief Idris Ibrahim said a single snake bite mark was found on the right side of Mohd Safa’s leg below the knee.

Newly appointed Fire and Rescue Depart ment director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim, who visited Mohd Safa at the hospital, said he was in critical condition.

“My men have been bitten in the past but this is the first time one of them is in a coma.” he said.