Snake bite terror
TWO WOMEN BITTEN ALONG OCEAN ROAD
TWO women have been admitted to Geelong hospital for snake bites sustained along the Great Ocean Road just a day apart.
The unusual situation has prompted calls to be wary of the potentially deadly creatures.
Val Nielsen, 78, was in the midst of a dream holiday when she was bitten by a snake near Cape Otway Lightstation on Wednesday morning.
Ms Nielsen and her partner Bob Vaughan, 77, live in Canada and are travelling in Australia for the first time.
“We stepped off the path into the grass,” Mr Vaughan said.
“I was in front … Val screamed ‘Bob, I’ve been bitten by a big black snake’.”
The pair walked between 150 and 200m to a nearby visitors’ station, Mr Vaughan said, where staff applied compression bandages and called emergency services.
Ms Neilsen, who was bitten behind the ankle, was flown to Geelong hospital.
Due to Ms Neilsen’s symptoms, doctors thought she had been bitten by a tiger snake, Mr Vaughan said.
“Right now it’s a stabilisation treatment,” he said.
“There was no damage to the brain, but because we walked that 150-200m, that pushed the venom around the body and there’s a little bit of muscle damage. That’s what they’re working to get under control.”
Yesterday, she remained in the intensive care unit at Geelong hospital.
The retirees, who are avid travellers, had planned to travel on to the Twelve Apostles, before venturing to Brisbane and flying home on February 28.
Mr Vaughan was effusive in his praise for Ambulance Victoria, Barwon Health Emergency Department and Trish Goodlet from the Cape Otway lightstation.
“Everything so far, in such a tragic situation, has been superb and wonderful. This hospital is out of this world,” he said.
Just one day after Ms Nielsen was bitten, Kate Sands of Ocean Grove was heading off on a walk near Aireys Inlet.
Alone and training for the coming Surf Coast Trek, the 28-year-old was about 200m down the track and adjusting her backpack, when she took a step back to balance herself.
“(I) felt something hit the back of my leg ... I thought it was a stick, then I turned around and I saw the snake.”
She moved about 50m back to a more open area, and her leg began hurting immediately.
“I could see there was a little bit of blood and two p puncture wounds,” she said. “It was like a sharp pain.” Ms Sands waited alone for the ambulance.
“I was a bit nervous just because I didn’t know what to do … I was uneasy, checking around all the time.”
She was taken to Geelong hospital and was expected to be released yesterday.
Ms Sands said she was not sure what kind of snake bit her, but it was thought it could be a tiger snake.
“I was feeling pretty good considering,” she said.
“They just take bloods every so often and check to make sure they’re stable.”
Ms Sands said she was “just happy” her beloved pet dog wasn’t with her, as she was left home due to the heat.
Snake Catcher Geelong’s Darren Keiler says he has been fielding about three calls a day.
“It’s about average (for this time of year),” he said.
He said Torquay and the Colac area had been two of the most frequent areas he was called to.
“If you see a snake, keep an eye on it from a safe distance. It’s illegal to kill a snake, call a snake catcher,” he said.
Mr Vaughan urged people to be vigilant following his partner's ordeal.
“You can’t be too careful out there,” he said.