what happened?
2006-10-09 00:58:01 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Many years ago I read that about every 10 years someone in the UK dies from an adder bite (we tend to use the word adder, rather than viper). Apparently they only die because they do not seek medical attention early enough. You should seek attention within 24 hours.
They are not to be seen in towns anyway, so you wouldn't get one in your garden. I saw one as a boy whilst walking in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. I froze, and it scarpered.
Below is a webpage of the British Medical Journal that claims that about one hundred people are bitten every year in the UK (gosh!), and that there were 14 deaths from 1876 to 1975, when the most recent fatality occurred (well it was in the 1970s when I read the "one every 10 years" statistic). The page also explains about the effects of the bite and the treatment.
2006-10-09 01:07:11 · answer #1 · answered by ♫ Rum Rhythms ♫ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes this has happened......and indeed there have been reported deaths although not for many years now.
The good news is that Vipers are the only poisonous snakes in the wild here. Their venom is weak, and even if you got a very serious bite, getting to a hospital would save you. And they are completely and utterly scared of humans so unless you trod on one by mistake or something they will hide away rather than bite you.
There are plenty in places such as Dartmoor.....
2006-10-09 01:06:47 · answer #2 · answered by Robbo31 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i saw one as a kid on the island of Tiree. It heard us clumping along and legged it, as it were. No bites. As a kid I was told that vipers are real scaredy cats and haven't bitten anyone for ages.
2006-10-09 01:03:13 · answer #3 · answered by wild_eep 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My little brother was biten by one about 15 years ago he was very little at the time and he said he thought it was a slug!hehe we had to go to hospital but he was ok and had 2 black puncher holes in his arm which he showed everyone saying that slugs bite!
Dont think it did him any harm hes 21 next year and would die if he new i had put it on here!
2006-10-09 01:19:13 · answer #4 · answered by Abigail F 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My mate was bitten by one in Kenya, he made it to a hospital pretty quick though and was okay. I don't think he would recommend anyone else try out the experience...
2006-10-11 09:55:07 · answer #5 · answered by drblonde 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i come from a small village i know 2 persons who have been bitten my own brother was one on both occasions the snake was disturbed normally they go away if they see you first.
2006-10-09 01:08:44 · answer #6 · answered by timmy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no one in the uk has been bitten but if you were you would die almost straight away. because you bleed inturnernly very fast.
2006-10-12 03:10:35 · answer #7 · answered by eeastbenders 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, but I was almost viped by a wild biter. Does that count?
2006-10-09 00:59:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it realy hurt and swelled up my whole hand i felt dizzy and a little bit sick but after a few days i was fine lucky it was only a small one
2006-10-09 06:30:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had many snake bites in a pub!!! haha it was not that painfull till the morning
2006-10-09 01:01:17 · answer #10 · answered by Bruza 17/uk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋