It doesn't matter how long you've been keeping venomous...

[chris-uk]

I'd heard about a cobra biting it's keeper in one of our local safari parks last week, then saw on the local news at lunchtime that it was Mark O'Shea that was bitten. I guess the snake doesn't care who you are, you can still get tagged.
Puts my bite from Nobby last night into perspective (she didn't even break the skin on my finger... lol).

I like this quote from him:
Asked how many times he had been bitten altogether, Mr O'Shea said: "It's between me and God... I don't count them. They're not boy scout merit badges."

I've thought sometimes that people out there wear snakebites as a badge of honour, or use them as a right of passage, so O'Shea's attitude sounds refreshing.

Anyway I thought some of you may want to have a read:
BBC News - West Midlands Safari Park snake handler bitten by cobra (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-19316084)
BBC News - Bitten handler Mark O'Shea 'forgives snake' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-19329812)

[EasternGirl]

Thanks for the links. I think it's pretty awesome how he explains that it wasn't the snake's fault and how she wasn't acting out of aggression but just searching for her food. It is in these types of situations that snakes get a bad rap. Good thing that he defended the snake! I'm glad he is okay.

[ProXimuS]

Glad he's doing ok! It's also cool he's there to defend the snakes innocence and talk to the crowd to explain what happened.

[guidofatherof5]

A speedy recovery to Mr. O'Shea.

[EasternGirl]

Interestingly, the book that I just bought on venomous snakes was written by O'Shea. Great book. Venomous Snakes of the World. Got it on Amazon for $12. This guy has been bitten by a lot of venomous snakes! He is seriously lucky to be alive. He tells some stories in the book about getting bitten by different snakes.