In brief
After feeling an alarming sensation on her foot while driving, a Melbourne woman discovered a deadly tiger snake inside her car, prompting a chaotic but safe evacuation onto the roadside. Victoria Police and snake control specialists ensured both her safety and the snake's relocation.
A driver in Melbourne's Monash Freeway had a harrowing experience recently when she discovered a deadly tiger snake inside her vehicle, which began slithering up her leg as she was traveling at 80 km/h (50 mph). Startled, the woman lost her composure and quickly pulled over, abandoning one of her shoes and trying to signal help from passing motorists. Victoria Police received calls for assistance regarding the frightened woman, who was described as "acting hiss-terically" on the side of the road. When officers arrived, they found the woman in a state of shock, recounting her frightening ordeal. She explained to responding officers that she had felt something unusual on her foot, which quickly turned into panic as she discovered the venomous snake. Emergency services were alerted, and Melbourne Snake Control arrived to handle the situation, identifying the creature as a tiger snake—one of the most venomous snakes in the world.Fortunately, the woman was taken to a nearby hospital for observation following a suspected snake bite but was reported to be in good health. The snake that had caused the fright was safely extracted from her vehicle, much to the astonishment of other drivers, some of whom filmed the unexpected spectacle. According to Tim Nanninga from Melbourne Snake Control, the snake was released back into a wild area far from human habitation to prevent any future encounters. This incident serves as a reminder of the unique wildlife challenges faced by Australian motorists.
