For the very first time, Australian Reptile Park Manager Billy Collett has finally answered the question he’s been asked for years — have you been bitten? Billy finally opened up about the most terrifying moment of his life almost 10 years later… the day he was bitten by a King Brown snake in 2016.
The beloved wildlife presenter and park manager, known for his passion for animals and dedication to the antivenom program, has worked hands-on with venomous snakes for over 20 years. Billy has now shared his harrowing near-death experience on his new YouTube series, Venom Diaries.
While examining a King Brown snake recovering from surgery, Billy was caught off guard when the reptile thrashed unexpectedly.
“About 5 minutes I could feel symptoms. My eyesight was strained, I had a really bad taste in my mouth, I felt extremely nauseous, I was sweating so bad,” Billy recalls.
When doctors administered antivenom, Billy suffered a severe allergic reaction, his body swelling and breaking out in hives. The snake that bit him had recently broken the world record for the largest venom yield from a snake.
“I was freaking out, I honestly thought I was gonna die,” Billy said.
Doctors carefully stabilised Billy, slowly administering antivenom over an extended period until the venom was neutralised. Remarkably, the week after, Billy was back at the Australian Reptile Park facing down the very snake that bit him.
Today, Billy is stronger than ever, still working hands-on with the world’s deadliest snakes to produce antivenom that saves hundreds of Australians each year.
The Australian Reptile Park has been the sole suppliers of terrestrial snake venom for the purpose of making anti-venom with CSL Seqirus. It is estimated that 300 lives are saved by anti-venom in Australia each year and since the program’s inception, over 25,000 Australian lives have been saved.
With warmer weather ahead and snake season approaching, Billy and the Australian Reptile Park are urging Australians to refresh their knowledge of first aid in case of a snake bite:
1. Stay calm.
2. Remove any jewellery from the affected limb.
3. Apply a pressure bandage: wrap firmly around the bite site 3 times, then continue bandaging up the entire limb.
4. Call 000 immediately.
