Snake bite kills farmer

A 79-YEAR-OLD Oatlands man has died from a snake bite, the first snake-related death in the state since 1977.

Winston Fish, known as Bill, was mustering sheep at Oatlands on Tuesday evening when he was bitten multiple times by a tiger snake.

Chris Daly, of Reptile Rescue, said Bill was well known in the Oatlands community and his death was sad.

A 79-YEAR-OLD Tasmanian has died from a snake bite, the first such death in the state since 1977.

Winston Fish, known as Bill, was mustering sheep at Oatlands on Tuesday evening when bitten multiple times by a tiger snake.

Chris Daly, of Reptile Rescue, said Bill was well known in the Oatlands community.

“I understand he was bitten on the inside of his leg between the groin and the knee,” he said. “The snake was caught on his clothes so he reached down and it then bit him on the hand. The snake then wrapped itself around his arm.”

Mr Daly said Mr Fish went untreated for about 45 minutes when a neighbour arrived and cut the snake off.

He was flown to hospital where he died at 1.30am, Wednesday. A Health Department spokesman said: “A man was treated at the Royal Hobart Hospital for a snake bite, he subsequently died and the matter has been referred to the coroner.”

Mr Daly said there had been eight snake bites this week in Tasmania.

A snake handler from Reptile Rescue was bitten and taken to hospital on Friday and on Thursday a teen boy was taken to hospital from Bothwell after being bitten.

“Because of the drought the snakes have no water so they’re on the move. The basic rule is if you respect them you won’t have a problem,” he said.