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Wildlife rescuer Trevor suffers snake bites
ANIMAL rescuer Trevor Weeks is recovering at home days after a nasty reaction to two snake bites saw him rushed to hospital.
Doctors had initially told Mr Weeks's colleagues his life could be in danger after the adder attack on Saturday afternoon, but his condition improved markedly and he was allowed home on Sunday.
The Gazette columnist and founder of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) was trying to come to the injured snake's aid when it bit him. Mr Weeks said the bite would not normally have posed a major health danger but blood pressure problems caused an adverse reaction to the venom, causing serious swelling on his right arm and both hands.
He initially went to the minor injury unit at Lewes hospital to have his wounds checked out, but passed out and was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Mr Weeks, 48, who has been rescuing animals in the Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford area for more than 25 years, said his was a 'very unusual' situation.
Writing in this week's 'Trevor's Week' column in the Eastbourne and Hailsham Gazettes, he said, "Fewer than one in five bites from an adder is likely to involve venom – I was just unlucky.
"I suffer from blood pressure problems and was dealing with two snakes in an unusual situation. I wouldn't want anyone worrying about snakes in their gardens as a result of reading this, as I was handling and assessing these snakes in a way in which members of the public should not be doing.
"Normally most one-off bites are not venomous but you can still suffer from anaphylactic reactions, most of which can be dealt with very easily."
The two adders Mr Weeks was rescuing had been cut free from netting and he was checking them for ligature wounds when the second snake attacked him.
The severity of the swelling meant doctors were initially unable to administer intravenous fluids or even check for a pulse, heightening their fears that his life could be in danger. But when his condition improved, Mr Weeks was given anti-venom and was able to be released from hospital on Sunday evening. He is now recuperating at home in Uckfield.
Speaking to the Gazette on Monday, he said, "It's still really quite painful. It was just one of those things really – the blood pressure problems made the situation more serious. I've now got to take it easy but I'm not the best of people for doing that."
In Trevor's enforced absence, WRAS rescuers will continue to respond to calls on its emergency line and look after animals at its casualty care unit near Chiddingly.
• Read Trevor's column on this website every week - click here.
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
