by It was an unusual snake bite death, authorities said Friday, when a hiker in a Tennessee state park was bitten by a rattlesnake he had picked up.
According to an email from Matthew Griffith, director of the Grundy County Emergency Association, the hiker, a male who wished to remain anonymous, was in Savage Gulf State Park near Gruetli-Laager, Tennessee, at approximately 12:30 p.m. on August 8.
According to Mr. Griffith, a witness informed authorities that the hiker had bitten his hand after handling what was thought to be a timber rattlesnake. Why the hiker picked up the snake was unclear.
The hiker had been on a trail for half a mile. After emergency personnel came and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, he was taken to a hospital, where he passed away, according to Mr. Griffith.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that although thousands of Americans are bitten by venomous snakes every year, only roughly five of those bites result in death.According to the agency, more people would perish if they did not seek medical attention.
According to Mr. Griffith, the man’s death is thought to have been brought on by an allergic response, although specifics have not yet been made public.
According to William Sutton, a professor in Tennessee State University’s Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who researches and works with snakes, an allergy to snake venom can resemble an allergy to bee stings.
According to him, a bite could cause anaphylaxis, which is characterized by a constriction of the airways and a drop in blood pressure, in just a few minutes.
According to Professor Sutton, there are certain persons who may just be allergic to snake venom.
According to Professor Sutton, venomous snakes in the US usually have more hemotoxic venom. This indicates that blood cells are broken down by the venom.
The most deadly venom of snakes in Australia and other nations contains neurotoxins. According to him, victims frequently have only an hour to seek medical attention.
According to him, a snake views people as predators and would typically need to use too much of its venom to justify biting a human.
According to Professor Sutton, they won’t bother you if you don’t annoy them. They’re not really eager to bite you.
Typically gray with a chevron pattern, timber rattlesnakes have black around the rattle. From Florida to New York, they can be found in a range of settings and range in length from two to five feet.
Located around 65 miles north of Chattanooga, Savage Gulf State Park is close to Gruetli-Laager, which was once two distinct villages established by Swiss immigrants before merging into a single community.
According to Professor Sutton, the 19,000-acre park is located in the Cumberland Plateau, also referred to as the Appalachian Plateau, a rocky region with hardwood forests where snakes are frequently found.
On Saturday, park representatives were not immediately available.
When hiking, it’s crucial to maintain your focus on the trail and its edges, according to Professor Sutton.
“Give it a wide berth if you do come across a snake,” he advised.
