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| West Midlands Safari Park snake handler bitten by cobra | West Midlands Safari Park snake handler bitten by cobra |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A snake handler at West Midlands Safari Park had to be airlifted to hospital after being bitten by a venomous snake. | A snake handler at West Midlands Safari Park had to be airlifted to hospital after being bitten by a venomous snake. |
| Keeper Mark O'Shea is said to be in a "stable condition" after the bite by a king cobra on Sunday afternoon. | Keeper Mark O'Shea is said to be in a "stable condition" after the bite by a king cobra on Sunday afternoon. |
| Zoo director Bob Lawrence said Mr O'Shea, who he described as one of the world's leading reptile experts, was bitten as he tried to feed the snake. | Zoo director Bob Lawrence said Mr O'Shea, who he described as one of the world's leading reptile experts, was bitten as he tried to feed the snake. |
| He said that although king cobras were one of the most venomous snakes, it had only been "a minor nip". | He said that although king cobras were one of the most venomous snakes, it had only been "a minor nip". |
| He said he was hoping Mr O'Shea, from Telford, in Shropshire, would leave hospital within the next day or two. | He said he was hoping Mr O'Shea, from Telford, in Shropshire, would leave hospital within the next day or two. |
| Venom from a king cobra can kill animals up to the size of an elephant if it enters their bloodstream. | |
| Mr O'Shea has previously presented TV programmes on reptiles for Channel 4, the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. | |
| He has also written several books on the creatures. | |
| Mr Lawrence said the safari park stored anti-venom for all of its poisonous animals, and routinely rehearsed such situations with local hospitals. | Mr Lawrence said the safari park stored anti-venom for all of its poisonous animals, and routinely rehearsed such situations with local hospitals. |
| He added: "It is very, very rare that these things ever happen. | He added: "It is very, very rare that these things ever happen. |
| "Working with animals like this always carries hazards with it, but we have safety measures in place." | "Working with animals like this always carries hazards with it, but we have safety measures in place." |
| He said Mr O'Shea had been with another member of staff when he was bitten by the 14-year-old female snake, called Sleeping Beauty, which has been at the safari park for 10 years. | |
| Mr Lawrence added that a full investigation would be carried out into the incident. | |
| He said: "You can't blame the snake for what happened - it's not its fault." | |
| A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said Mr O'Shea had already received "excellent first aid" from staff who immobilised his leg and had anti-venom ready to administer if needed. | A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said Mr O'Shea had already received "excellent first aid" from staff who immobilised his leg and had anti-venom ready to administer if needed. |
| The ambulance service said: "Due to the fact the venom can be lethal if it enters the bloodstream, the man was airlifted to hospital as a precaution." | The ambulance service said: "Due to the fact the venom can be lethal if it enters the bloodstream, the man was airlifted to hospital as a precaution." |
| Medics at the hospital were alerted ahead of the man's arrival. | Medics at the hospital were alerted ahead of the man's arrival. |