Man living in Australia suffers adder bite on Cornish coastal path
Craig Laing, who was visiting family in St Just, was taken to hospital for three days
Last updated 22nd Aug 2023
A man living in Australia has been treated in hospital after being bitten by an adder on a coastal path in Cornwall.
Chris Laing was brought up in St Just but now lives in Melbourne and was back in Cornwall visiting family.
The 37-year-old described the incident, which took place near Lands End, as 'ironic' - saying it was the first time he has been attacked by one despite living in Australia, the home to some of the world's 'deadliest snakes'.
Chris told us: "I don't think there was a lot of awareness in Australia that there's venomous snakes in the UK, or even Cornwall.
"I was talking to my Uncle in Melbourne, I don't think he took it seriously I don't think he realised it was a real snake and to be fair by Aussie standards, it probably wasn't.
"The chances of being bitten are really remote, it's really rare. The chance that I've come back, from Australia, is extremely ironic."
Chris, along with his friend, also visiting from Australia, were walking a coast path between St Just and Lands End on Thursday afternoon, when the snake attacked Chris without him noticing it.
He added: "I didn't see an adder or anything in front of me. The path was quite narrow and I felt this sort of barbed stabbing pain in my right ankle. When I looked down, the snake was clinging on to my ankle.
"My ankle swelled up, probably twice the size of my ankle as normal. Then the swelling slowly drifted up my leg. There was a sort-of pins and needles feeling in my right leg, the sensation then started turning numb.
"I jumped and kicked out and it was only then that it released and flew up the path. I think the snake got caught in my socks.
"After that, I realised it was a snake and was in a bit of shock. We weren't really close to any roads so we had to climb down the side of the valley to rejoin the road. One of the local guys from St Just kindly gave us a lift into St Just."
Chris called 111 where he was advised to get medical attention, so his girlfriend Dani drove him to A&E at Treliske Hospital to get treated. It was there where he passed out and spent three days in hospital for anti-venom treatment.
Laura Fox, data and evidence officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: "It's a very unusual story, he was very unlucky to have this happen to him. Usually adders only bite when they feel threatened, usually you would see it on the path in front of you and you would be able to avoid going near it and give it plenty of space and you'd be fine.
"It was unfortunate in this case that the adder was a bit hidden away, the adder was a bit worried and had bitten him for that reason. This might be the case if somebody stepped on them or in some cases people pick them up. That's obviously something we don't want people to be doing."
Chris has thanked the pharmacy at St Just, Royal Cornwall Hospital staff and his girlfriend Dani Atherton, for driving him to hospital and helping him get treated as quickly as possible.
If you see an adder in Cornwall, Laura from Cornwall Wildlife Trust has this advice:
"You are more likely to come across adders at this time of year because they're more active in the summer months, they hibernate in the winter. Because they're cold blooded, they need to achieve a certain body temperature before they move around and they do this by basking.
"If you want to avoid adders, it's best to go in the middle of the day because by that point they'll be nice and warm, they'll be able to sense you coming and they will slither away before you even notice them.
"It's a good idea to wear sturdy walking boots that cover the ankles. Watch the path ahead, watch where you put your feet and if you see an adder give it plenty of space."