Cyclist survives bite from Australia's deadliest snake after reptile tangles in bike chain on holiday ride

A woman in her 60s was bitten by an eastern brown snake on a rail trail in northern New South Wales after the two-metre reptile became trapped in her bicycle chain, according to multiple reports. Paramedics responded around 1pm on Wednesday and took the woman to Tweed Valley hospital in stable condition after she was bitten on the thigh, The Guardian reported. She was discharged on Thursday.

"Her last day on holidays took a dangerous turn on a popular rail trail." 7NEWS noted that the incident occurred on the northern rivers rail trail near Burringbar, where the snake, one of the world's most venomous, got caught in the chain as the cyclist rode over it. abc.net.au added that the snake was about two metres long and became entangled before biting her.

2 sources

abc.net.auCyclist bitten by brown snake caught in her bike chain7NEWSCyclist rushed to hospital after eastern brown snake trapped in bike chain bites rider in Burringbar

"It had its head swinging around" Cycling Weekly reported that the cyclist described the snake's head swinging around as it was trapped in the drivechain. The eastern brown snake is responsible for the most fatal snake bites in the country, BroBible pointed out, making the woman's survival particularly fortunate.

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Cycling Weekly'It had its head swinging around' – Australian bike rider bitten by deadly snake that became entangled in her drivechainBroBibleCyclist Rescued After Being Bitten By Australia’s Deadliest Snake After It Became Lodged In The Chain (Video)

The woman was treated for the bite on her thigh and remained stable throughout, according to El-Balad. The incident underscores the risks of encountering venomous wildlife even on popular recreational trails in Australia.

El-BaladSarah Mailey frees Snake from bike chain after Burringbar bite