Why it pays to know your venomous snake species in Hong Kong – a snake bite victim explains
- Hong Kong has more than 50 snake species, and eight of the land-dwelling ones have bites that can be life-threatening
- Being able to identify the snake helped with Steve Pheby’s treatment when he was bitten by a bamboo pit viper; six days later he ran a half-marathon
Steve Pheby was walking his dog in Sai Kung in Hong Kong’s New Territories last September when he was bitten by a bamboo pit viper, Hong Kong’s most common venomous snake.
“It was late at night and I’d just got home from a long-haul flight from London and changed into shorts and flip-flops,” says British-born Pheby. “I was with my dog just a few metres from my house and it all happened so quickly. At first it felt like a tiny scratch, but later it felt like someone was drilling into my foot,” he says. Upon reflection, he regretted his choice of footwear.
“I saw the snake slither away and looked down and saw a couple of pricks of blood. I walked home and dialled 999 [for the emergency services]. Twenty minutes later the ambulance, police and fire brigade had arrived. There was no pain for the first 20 minutes – then it kicked in.”
Pheby, a fan of the Hong Kong Snakes Facebook page, found it easier to visually identify the snake than to attempt to photograph it. He knew what species it was from its bright green colour and red markings on its tail, a vital detail that distinguished it from the non-venomous greater green snake for which bamboo pit vipers are often mistaken. Knowing this meant he was able to properly brief doctors so he was administered the correct antivenom.
“What I discovered through the Facebook group is that treatment of snake bites varies according to the species, and just like there are different kinds of snakes, there are also different kinds of venom, such as neurotoxins [chemical substances that are poisonous to the nervous system] and haemotoxins that disrupt normal blood coagulation.
“When I got to [Tseung Kwan O] hospital, I was asked over and over if I was certain it was a bamboo pit viper. The doctors wanted precise details, which I gave: red tint to tail, evil eyes, diamond head, bad attitude, scaly skin. Then I told them the difference between that and the other green snake, and they seemed satisfied to give me the antivenom.”
Pheby, who is also co-founder of Hong Kong Hikers, a group that helps people explore Hong Kong’s countryside, was running again within three days of being bitten and did a half-marathon within six.
In Hong Kong, snake bites are rare and deaths even rarer. According to the city’s Hospital Authority, there are about 100 snake bites a year, while the last recorded death from one was more than 20 years ago.
“It made sense to set up because so many people were asking me about the differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes. There was a lot of conflicting information out there,” says Ferguson, who has spent more than 20 years gathering information on Hong Kong wildlife.
Snakes rarely attack people unless provoked; a strike is usually defensive. Pheby says: “I was bitten when I stepped backwards from trying to pull my dog away from the plants next to the pavement. I didn’t see it come towards me before the bite.”
He adds: “If you encounter a snake, stay calm and still. Don’t run or throw rocks or sticks at it – just give it a chance to find an escape route. It’s more scared of you.”
Pheby says a lot of people who fear snakes avoid country parks, but that “snakes are everywhere”.
“I wasn’t in the jungle when I was bitten, but near my house while walking on a pavement on a busy main road that was lit by street lights.” He says that, in an emergency, you should note the nearest street lamp and its number, or the nearest trail marker number – they usually start with KK – if you’re on a marked trail.
“When you give this number to emergency services, they can locate you right away.”
What to do if you’re bitten
1. Move away from the snake if it hasn’t already moved away and call emergency services on 999. Get to a hospital and seek medical care without delay. Even a bite from a non-venomous snake may require a tetanus shot or booster.
2. Take note of the snake’s appearance. This is important, as treatment varies. Don’t try to catch or kill the snake, but take a picture if you can, or try and remember its shape – especially its head – and colour. A positive snake ID can help the doctors to treat you.
3. Be as still as possible. If you’re waiting for help to arrive, lie on your back and take deep, steady breaths.
4. Clean the wound with water. Be gentle.
5. Remove clothing, jewellery, or constricting items.
