A 57-year-old German man has tragically died at a snake charming show at a luxury beach resort in Egypt after he was bitten by a highly-venomous cobra
A tourist has died after a snake crawled up his pants and bit him as he watched a show on a family holiday in Egypt.
The 57-year-old German was watching the snake-charming event at a hotel in Hurghada, a luxury beach resort on the Red Sea, in early April when the incident happened.
Two snakes, reported to be cobras, were draped around the upper-bodies of the audience who had come to see the show.
It is understood that the victim then allowed a snake to crawl up his trousers which was when he was bitten.
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Police in Bavaria said: “During the snake charmer’s performance, one of the snakes crawled into the trousers of a 57-year-old man, resulting in a bite to the German tourist’s leg.”
The victim showed “clear signs of poisoning” and had to be resuscitated before being taken to hospital, but he later died, said a statement from German police.
The man, who was not named in the statement, came from the Unterallgaeu district in Bavaria and was on holiday with two family members.
German police and prosecutors are investigating his death and are awaiting the results of a toxicology test.
The police statement added: “The investigation into the circumstances of the death is being conducted by the Memmingen Criminal Police Inspectorate under the direction of the Memmingen Public Prosecutor’s Office. The results of a toxicological examination are still pending.
It appears as though it is normal for performers at the snake charming shows to allow the reptiles to crawl over guests and that they are place around their necks.
Cobras are known for being highly venomous as most possess neurotoxic venom, which attacks the central nervous system and can lead to rapid paralysis and respiratory failure. Without intervention, such as antivenom or mechanical ventilation, a bite from a large species like the King Cobra can be fatal in as little as 30 minutes.
Snake charming remains very controversial due to the danger but also the practice has been criticised by animal rights organisations which have long lobbied against them for being cruel and often used as a tourist trap in parts of the world.
