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British man dies from sea snake bite in Australia | British man dies from sea snake bite in Australia |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A British man has died after being bitten by a sea snake on a fishing trawler in Australia, police have said. | A British man has died after being bitten by a sea snake on a fishing trawler in Australia, police have said. |
The man, 23, had just pulled up a net off the coast of the Northern Territory when he was bitten about 09:00 local time on Thursday (23:00 GMT Wednesday). | The man, 23, had just pulled up a net off the coast of the Northern Territory when he was bitten about 09:00 local time on Thursday (23:00 GMT Wednesday). |
Emergency crews were called to the boat, near island Groote Eylandt, but were unable to save the man. | Emergency crews were called to the boat, near island Groote Eylandt, but were unable to save the man. |
It may be the first recorded death from a sea snake in Australia, according to researchers. | It may be the first recorded death from a sea snake in Australia, according to researchers. |
The man was working on the trawler and was bitten by the sea snake while lifting a net onto the boat, police said. | |
The man's body was taken to the mainland town of Borroloola on Thursday. Northern Territory Police said a post-mortem would be conducted. | The man's body was taken to the mainland town of Borroloola on Thursday. Northern Territory Police said a post-mortem would be conducted. |
A British High Commission spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in the Northern Territory and are in contact with the Australian authorities." | A British High Commission spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in the Northern Territory and are in contact with the Australian authorities." |
Authorities have not said which species may have caused the death. | Authorities have not said which species may have caused the death. |
'Tragically unlucky' | 'Tragically unlucky' |
Sea snakes are highly venomous, but because of their limited contact with humans, bites are relatively rare. | Sea snakes are highly venomous, but because of their limited contact with humans, bites are relatively rare. |
Australia is home to 30 of 70 known species, according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science. | Australia is home to 30 of 70 known species, according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science. |
Blanche D'Anastasi, who researches the animal at James Cook University, said she believed Australia had no previously recorded deaths from sea snakes. | Blanche D'Anastasi, who researches the animal at James Cook University, said she believed Australia had no previously recorded deaths from sea snakes. |
Associate Prof Bryan Fry, from University of Queensland, described it as a "tragically unlucky accident". | Associate Prof Bryan Fry, from University of Queensland, described it as a "tragically unlucky accident". |
"By and large they are very gentle animals, and people do go scuba diving with them all the time," he told the BBC. | "By and large they are very gentle animals, and people do go scuba diving with them all the time," he told the BBC. |
"But in a fishing trawler situation, where they've been potentially dragged through the water in a net, they will come up injured and perhaps looking to lash out." | "But in a fishing trawler situation, where they've been potentially dragged through the water in a net, they will come up injured and perhaps looking to lash out." |
Sea snakes are often encountered by fishing crews in the region, Ms D'Anastasi said. | Sea snakes are often encountered by fishing crews in the region, Ms D'Anastasi said. |
According to research published last year, snakes were responsible for 27 deaths in Australia between 2000 and 2013. | According to research published last year, snakes were responsible for 27 deaths in Australia between 2000 and 2013. |