STORM2K

SUN JAN 14, 2007
Syndey, AUS

A SYDNEY teenager bitten by one of the world's most venomous snakes died in hospital Sunday afternoon with his family at his bedside.

The 16-year-old stumbled from bushland into the middle of a suburban cricket game at Whalan on Saturday and collapsed from a heart attack after he had been bitten on the hand by an eastern brown snake.
Whalan is located in Western Sydney.

He was taken to Westmead Hospital but died Sunday afternoon.

Doctors worked throughout the night on Saturday but were unable to save the boy.
It is believed his trek with a friend to find help, in hot conditions through bushland, may have advanced the spread of the venom through his body.
The boy's death has been referred to the coroner.

The eastern brown snake is common on the east coast and can grow to two metres.
It is considered the second-most venomous land snake in the world after the inland taipan, which also lives in Australia.

One Campbelltown snake catcher, Les Shearim, said the eastern brown snake loved warm weather and there were "probably millions" around Sydney at this time.

He said brown snakes were "found all over Sydney, really".
"They are very common in the western suburbs.
"They adapt to human environments. I have found them under houses and in shopping centres."

The Eastern Brown Snake is one of Australia's most dangerous reptiles. It is fast-moving and aggressive. However, like most snakes, it is most likely to retreat. The Eastern Brown Snake was probably once widespread in the Sydney region, but it has not been recorded in the inner urban areas around the harbour for more than 50 years, and nearly all recent records (25 years or less) have been from bushland in the upper reaches of the harbour's northern tributaries.

The name 'Brown Snake' is a bit misleading. Colours are variable and range from tan through dark brown, russet-orange to almost black, with a cream or white belly. Juveniles have black bands. In some individuals, the bands cover the entire body while others have bands only to the head. Both variations may be born in the same clutch. The black bands fade with age but may still be evident in some adults.

The Eastern Brown Snake lays eggs and feeds on lizards, frogs, small mammals and birds.

Distribution:
Eastern and central Australia, in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, south-eastern South Australia, Northern Territory.

Habitat: Forests and woodlands, heath.

Status: Common

Size: 2 m.

Bite: Venomous and dangerous

-justin-

Yeh australia has a majority of the world's deadliest snakes right in it own backyard. I'm sure this is nothing new up there. But definitely sad

Sydney Aus
Sun Jan 21 2007
HAYDEN Parkinson worshipped Steve Irwin and, like his hero, he died doing what he loved most - catching wildlife.
Hayden, 16, died after being bitten by a snake at Whalan eight days ago.

Saturday, his father, John, said his gentle giant of a son died a hero, saving his companion from the bite of a snake he knew could kill.
And Mr Parkinson said his family was comforted in the knowledge that Hayden - a 1.9-metre, 115-kilogram "Steve Irwin type"- was happy in his last hours.

"[Snakes] were his passion in life and, to this day, I believe he died with a smile on his face," he said. "If it hadn't have been a snakebite, it would have been from wrestling crocodiles."

Hayden, who was developmentally delayed, dropped out of school in year 8, aged 13. Most days since - including his last - were spent hunting for snakes in local bushland, and he often camped out at night.
It was a fascination sparked by his father, who taught him how to catch snakes as a seven-year-old. The family had kept snakes as pets at times during his life.

On January 13, Hayden went with a close childhood friend to Whalan Reserve, near his mother's home, where he sometimes stayed.
It is not clear what happened next but Mr Parkinson believes Hayden caught a snake and placed it in a makeshift bag - but when he dropped the bag it attacked.

Mr Parkinson said Hayden tried to keep the 1.5-metre eastern brown snake - the second deadliest in the world - away from his friend. He said Hayden would have known how dangerous the snake was and what precautions to take, but would have been trying to protect his mate.

Hayden's father said that, contrary to reports that the boy ran for help, he walked just 10 metres before suffering a heart attack and collapsing. His mate ran to a nearby cricket oval to raise the alarm.
Hayden was flown to Mount Druitt Hospital where his family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support the following day.

Supported by Hayden's stepmother, Cherie Rye, Mr Parkinson paid tribute to his son.
"Every day was an adventure for him. There was no such thing as a Monday to Friday for him," he said. "If we could all live our lives like that, it would be absolutely beautiful.
"He had a beautiful way of looking at life that I think has been long forgotten."

The couple said Hayden would have condemned the reported retaliatory attacks on snakes in the days following his death.
"We hate seeing that people are bashing the snakes," Ms Rye said. "That is not what he would have liked."
Mr Parkinson said the family would like to see more wildlife education in school so that other children do not die as Hayden had.

"I think every kid wants to be [Irwin] and they don't realise that snakes are quite deadly," he said. "Look, don't touch, and just walk away. They are as scared of you as you are of them, so if you ignore them, they will ignore you."
Family and friends mourned Hayden's passing at Pine Grove Crematorium on Friday morning.

-justin-