In brief
A Melbourne woman was hospitalized after a shocking encounter with a tiger snake inside her vehicle.
In a surreal turn of events, a woman driving along the Monash Freeway in Melbourne experienced a heart-stopping moment when she discovered a tiger snake slithering up her leg. The driver was traveling at 80km/h (50mph) when she felt an unexpected sensation on her foot, prompting her to glance down and see the deadly reptile. In a panic, she managed to navigate through traffic, pulling over to the roadside, where she exited her vehicle in an urgent attempt to escape the snake. Victoria Police were alerted to the situation after they received reports of a distressed female driver attempting to flag down other motorists. Officers arriving on the scene noted she was "acting hiss-terically" and appeared to be in shock from the ordeal. Victoria Police reported that the woman ultimately left one of her shoes behind as she fled her car, but fortunately managed to fend off the snake before getting to safety. They called in experts from Melbourne Snake Control to safely retrieve the creature, which is known as one of the world's most venomous snakes. Following the encounter, the driver was taken to a hospital for a suspected snake bite, but Melbourne Snake Control later updated on social media that she was recovering well. Passing motorists were reportedly left in disbelief as the snake was extracted from the vehicle, with some filming the unusual sight. Tim Nanninga from Melbourne Snake Control confirmed the snake was relocated to a safe area, far from residential zones. This incident highlights the dangers of encountering wildlife on Australian roads, particularly with creatures like tiger snakes, who are known to inhabit coastal regions and can be highly aggressive when disturbed.
