64-year-old woman survives two-hour python attack in her Bangkok home

BANGKOK:

A 64-year-old Thai woman named Arom endured a horrific ordeal when she was strangled for two hours by a giant python while doing housework in her home near Bangkok.

The snake, estimated to be four to five meters long, attacked while Arom was washing dishes in her kitchen.

She first felt a sharp pain in her thigh and looked down to see the python biting her leg. The snake quickly wrapped itself around her torso, tightening its grip as it twisted around her body.

Arom tried to free herself by grabbing the snake's head, but the python only squeezed harder and pinned her to the kitchen floor.

For two hours she fought against the increasingly tightening snakes and screamed desperately for help. At first no one responded to her cries, so she had to fight the deadly constrictor alone.

Eventually, one of her neighbors heard her distress and alerted the authorities.

When police arrived at the scene, they were shocked to find Arom lying on the ground, completely immobilized by the python.

Police Major Sergeant Anusorn Wongmalee of the Phra Samut Chedi police station in Samut Prakan province, south of Bangkok, described the snake as “really big” and difficult to handle.

Police and animal welfare experts quickly intervened to free Arom from the python's grip, using a crowbar to repeatedly hit the snake's head to force it to break free.

After several attempts, the python finally broke free from its anchorage and slipped away before authorities could catch it.

Despite coordinated efforts to find and capture the snake, it managed to escape into the surrounding area.

Arom was taken to hospital after the incident, where she was treated for multiple snake bites.

Fortunately, despite the severity of the attack, she did not suffer any life-threatening injuries.

She later described the ordeal and explained that despite all her efforts she had not been able to free herself from the python's grip.

“I grabbed it by the head, but it wouldn't let go,” Arom said. “It just contracted.”

Although pythons are non-venomous, they are known to kill their prey by strangling.

They wrap their muscular bodies around their target and squeeze tighter with each breath their victim takes, cutting off the blood supply and ultimately causing death by suffocation.

Although they generally feed on smaller animals, pythons can also attack humans, especially if they feel threatened or cornered.

There are about 250 different species of snakes in Thailand, including three species of python: reticulated python, tiger python and blood python.

These snakes are widespread in both rural and urban areas of Thailand and enter homes to seek shelter, especially during the rainy season.

According to Thailand's National Health Security Office, more than 12,000 people were treated for venomous snake and animal bites in 2022.

While most of these cases were not fatal, 26 people died from snakebites this year. Although deaths from large constrictors are rare, there have been several cases that have attracted attention, particularly in neighboring countries such as Indonesia.

Last month, a woman was tragically found dead in the stomach of a python in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, after the snake swallowed her whole.

In another incident in June, another woman was discovered in the belly of a reticulated python in the same region.

Although Arom's encounter with the python resulted in her life being saved, it highlighted the potential dangers posed by large constrictors in Southeast Asia.

Although pythons are non-venomous, they can be deadly due to their tremendous strength and ability to suffocate their prey.

Local authorities are still searching for the python that attacked Arom, but it is currently still at large.

The incident also highlights the challenges faced by both residents and authorities in regions where people and wildlife, including snakes, often come into close contact.

While alarming, Arom's case is not an isolated one, and it is a reminder of the importance of being alert and taking precautions in areas where large snakes are present.