Ray Hunter bitten by EDB

[adamanteus]

Crotalid bites are physically very nasty to see.

That's so true. Let's hope the tissue damage isn't too extensive. Just the thought of being envenomated by something like an EDB turns me cold! I hope he'll be okay.

[Bay_area]

updated article...he drove himself to the hospital




http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2007/oct/30/psl-man-drives-self-hospital-after-his-rattlesnake/

PORT ST. LUCIE — A venomous snake aficionado with the nickname "Cobraman" has been in the intensive care unit in the past after being bit by the slithery reptiles.

That's where 44-year-old Raymond Hunter is today — in critical condition in St. Lucie Medical Center — after an eastern diamondback rattlesnake chomped his right hand.

"He's got two passions in this world, Jesus Christ and venomous snakes," friend Andy James said Monday afternoon.

Hunter has a Web site that shows a variety of photos of himself holding cobras by the tail. It also states he became "a born again child of God in 1985." He had a "bit of a stumble" with the occult and became a member of the Church of Satan, though he is now a Christian.

He's known around St. Lucie County for his hobby of keeping venomous snakes. He sometimes helps animal control officers move a snake from one place to another. Sometimes he sells it; sometimes he gives it to a herpetologist; and sometimes he releases it into the wild in a non-populated area, James said.

Hunter got the eastern diamondback — the deadliest of all rattlers — following a call last week from city animal control officers. Apparently early Saturday morning, the creature bit him on the right hand, near the base of his forefinger and thumb, he told Port St. Lucie police and hospital staff.

He drove himself to St. Lucie Medical Center - and almost made it inside. About 12:30 a.m. Saturday a passerby told a police officer there that a man appeared to be unconscious in the parking lot behind the wheel of his parked vehicle, according to a police report.

"When (Hunter) got there, he already was in bad shape," Hunter's 47-year-old friend Maristela Duffield said.

As he lost consciousness, Hunter, who is licensed to possess venomous snakes, told investigators that his snakes and his residence were secure and that he lived in Midport Place, an apartment/condominium complex on Southeast Royal Green Circle.

"He was unable to provide any further details due to his rapidly declining condition," according to the report.

James said Hunter has a few snakes in his apartment, including cobras.

Al Cruz with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Venom Response Bureau said his agency delivered 30 vials of anti-venom to the hospital.

He said eastern diamondbacks are the deadliest rattlers in the nation.

"One bite (has powerful enough venom to) kill five people," he said, estimating that 250 to 300 people each year are bitten by venomous snakes in Florida.

Duffield, who also has a license to keep venomous snakes, said Monday that Hunter was having dialysis in the hospital and has a tube in his throat. She said Hunter is fascinated with cobras and they've become a part of his identity.

"I believe it was an accident that maybe he just got too confident," said Duffield, who met Hunter through his sister-in-law more than 10 years ago.

She told investigators Hunter "self-immunized himself against many different exotic, poisonous snakes and had been bitten many times in the past," the report states.

Nancy Haast, administrator at the Miami Serpentarium Laboratories where Hunter worked briefly in the 1990s, said venom from eastern diamondbacks can cause a "massive destruction of blood and tissue and vital organs."

[adamanteus]

Any solid news on how is now? I guess it all depends on how much venom the snake delivered and how long it was from the time of the bite 'till he received medical help. I'll be watching this thread to see how he gets on.

[RZL36]

I know that I probably shouldn't be saying this, but I really never want to hear of someone keeping venomous snakes in an apartment. It drives me crazy. I really hope he is okay though.

[Bay_area]

This is all I have found out so far...
He recieved 24 vials of Antivenin the first day. His kidneys have shut down and he had surgey to relieve the pressure in his right arm. He was opened from the wrist to almost the shoulder. Ray did well in surgery. They opened his arm in 8 places from hand to tricep. Ray was given another 9 vials of anti-venin. after his first surgery. That takes the count up to 32 vials.
Currently, He is on meds for pain and antibiotics and his kidneys produced a small amount of fluid. He was on dialysis again, but the Doctors are very hopefull about his kidneys. He has a long road of recovery ahead of him.

[Lori P]

I'm just speechless. I really have never looked into what different types of venom can do to you. Mind boggling. I sure hope he makes a full recovery.

[adamanteus]

Promising prognosis after all. Fingers crossed for Ray.

[anji1971]

I'm just speechless. I really have never looked into what different types of venom can do to you. Mind boggling. I sure hope he makes a full recovery.

Not only that, but the amount of antivenon needed is a surprise to me. That's an awful lot of vials!

[Bay_area]

Not only that, but the amount of antivenon needed is a surprise to me. That's an awful lot of vials!

Also very expensive $$$$$$$

I am glad that I have Kaiser coverage. My insurance plan covers everything, only would have to pay the $50 emergency visit fee.
Can not find anyone to give me life insurance @ a good rate because I keep rattlers.
Funny thing is my homeowners insurance will not cover me if I have a rottwieller or pitbull, but I can have all the rattlers I want

[anji1971]

Life Insurance...........something else that would not have occurred to me........I guess it's a good thing I'm too chicken to keep anything venomous!!