Antonious Ford, 63, lies in a bed at the OKEU Hospital, feeling pain but thankful to be alive after a venomous fer-de-lance bit him at Belvedere, Canaries, on Saturday.
He recalled leaving his farm to look for yams when the snake bit him on his leg above his Wellington boots.
Ford told St. Lucia Times he tied the bite area, grabbed a stick, and walked to the main road.
“When I reached close to the main road, I met a friend who had a car,” he disclosed.
Ford said he was on his way to the Soufriere Hospital when he was transferred to an ambulance dispatched by the Soufriere fire station after receiving a call for assistance.
He said the ambulance took him to the OKEU Hospital.
Ford said the medical staff at OKEU was caring for his injury, and he felt slightly better after Saturday’s incident, although his leg was still paining.
He explained that, at first, he thought the snake was a boa constrictor.
Ford said he had seen boas in the area before.
“But that one, when I looked at it after it bit me, it wasn’t a boa,” he told St. Lucia Times.
According to Ford, the creature was under a little tree at the roadside.
“So when I try to cross, when I put my leg down, I saw it underneath my leg. So I try to crush it, but by the time I try to crush it it bite me,” he said.
and forestry department will tell us not to kill these bastards and you can be arrested for that? no snake is worth more than anyone’s life.
@ma malay company like misery coz the snake was at the right place at the wrong time, y is bcoz the victim say he stepped on it an try to crush it so it defended it self just like u would do if ur life is threatened
The most dangerous species in St. Lucia today is Homo sapiens. See how many homicides we have had for the year so far. How many snake bite victims or deaths have we had this year.
Our Fer-de-lance holds high promise for medical research especially its venom.
The boa is protected not the ferdelance. Secondly why did he just try to get out of the way instead of trying to crush it as per his words. very unfortunate. Bad move on his part
I Don’t care with Forestry I will kill any Snake that’s within my Sight .Nothing will be posted on Facebook .you tube nor the news Media .I will Dispose it myself
Pryde:- On whose side are you, the Snake or the victim? today the man was lucky he was quickly taken to hospital for treatment or else, beside his life he could have lost a leg, due to amputation.
@ Donald Anthony:- you are right, in the ST. Lucia of today, a time in my life I am afraid of visiting my folks because, not for poisonous Snakes, but of such an animal who can hurt me for what I wear, what I say, the way I move around etc.
Venomous snakes may hold these elements some consider of some medical value, but I think I have an answer for local Farmers and that is, Hunt down and thrash out all Snakes of the poisonous type, get rid of them; the value of its venom is easily obtainable from India, South America and many parts of Africa, we don’t need these Snakes here.
Now for the two legged ones, all we need is a ‘Rope & a Hangman’ period.
Happy this man got help in a timely manner to save his life. Man almost lost his life trying to feed his family. Forestry and Wildlife need to educate the public about how to protect themselves from snake bites. The mister should have stepped back and not to mess with the snake. Costly lesson. I don’t think I would risk my life farming in a snake infested area.
Why bash the island and y’all reside in places that are worse ..scared to ride the trains and be out at certain times where your kids are snatch of the roads but talk sweet Helen like she’s so unsafe..listen the island is safe .. tourist walk the streets with out being afraid so why should locals say they are afraid to return..
The snakes in the house of assembly refuse to enact a minimum or livable wage they are more dangerous than the fer de lance