Wales On Sunday

WARNING ISSUED AFTER DOG WALKER IS BITTEN BY SNAKE

- THOMAS DEACON Reporter thomas.deacon@walesonlin­e.co.uk

ADOG walker was left vomiting, suffering from diarrhoea and in “horrendous” pain after being bitten by a snake.

A spate of incidents involving adders has led an animal expert and a veterinary surgery to issue warnings for people to be vigilant.

Several adder sightings have been reported in areas including Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan and one woman was taken to hospital after being bitten while walking her dog in Port Eynon.

A leading reptile expert said the protected reptiles are often misunderst­ood.

While out walking her dog on April 22, Gilly Thomas was bitten by what was believed to be an adder.

Ms Thomas said: “I was walking the dog and stopped to see where the dog was. That’s when I was bitten.

“Pretty quickly my foot and my lips swelled up and I called 999. Two firefighte­rs came first and then a paramedic.”

Ms Thomas was rushed to Morriston Hospital and given anti-ven- om before spending two nights in hospital.

The registered nurse said that she has experience­d “horrendous” pain, diarrhoea and vomiting since.

Reptile specialist and broadcaste­r Dr Rhys Jones said adders were peaceful creatures and would only bite humans in very rare circumstan­ces.

The Cardiff University lecturer said: “They are one of the two native snakes that we have in Wales.

“Its numbers are in decline – the loss of their habitat is the main reason. It is their last resort to attack someone or something.

“Their main prey is voles or mice and they catch them as they go past.” He said 99.9% of the time “they will just sit there as you walk by. They normally bite people if they accidental­ly step on them.”

Dr Jones, 47, said adders will puff themselves up and hiss before biting. “They are not aggressive creatures – they’re actually quite shy and secretive.

“I would say that as a dog walker and animal lover myself to please just be vigilant.

“Do not lose sight of your dog and maybe keep them on a lead.”

Previously the host of a BBC nature programme, Dr Jones said he had handled hundreds of adders during his career and has never been bitten.

Barry and Boverton Vets, based in Llantwit Major, have also warned people to be vigilant for adders.

In a Facebook post they said: “Now the warmer weather is here please be vigilant for adders etc when out walking your dog.

“We had a dog in yesterday who got bitten on the face by a snake.

“The owner was walking on the path to the beach in Rhoose. Adders do frequent Rhoose, especially in the quarries and coastal path, they also have been found down Abert h aw

beach on the path and in bushes leading to the biodiversi­ty area.”

The NHS says that immediatel­y after being bitten by a snake you should remain calm, as most in the UK are rarely deadly. They say that you should try to remember the shape, size and colour of the snake and keep the part of your body that’s been bitten very still.

Dial 999 immediatel­y to ask for an ambulance or go straight to the nearest accident and emergency, it says.

 ??  ?? This is what Gilly Thomas’ foot looked like after she was bitten
This is what Gilly Thomas’ foot looked like after she was bitten
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