Cobra bites German tourist during snake charmer act at Egypt hotel

A cobra's venom can kill in as little as 30 minutes. Photo / 123rf

A German tourist has died after a snake bit him during a show in Egypt, after the performer let the snake slither up the man’s trouser leg.

German police said the victim, whose identity was not released, was holidaying with two family members in early April when he was bitten, Agence France-Press reported.

The snake charmer let two snakes, believed to be cobras, be draped around audience members as part of the show, Bavaria state police said in a statement.

“One of the snakes crawled into the trousers of a 57-year-old man, resulting in a bite to the German tourist’s leg,” the police said, according to CNN.

“He subsequently exhibited clear symptoms of poisoning and required resuscitation.”

The man was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, Agence France-Press reported.

“The results of a toxicological examination are still pending.”

When contacted by Agence France-Press, the Egyptian authorities said they were not aware of the incident or death.

The snake charmer act was part of a hotel entertainment programme in the resort city of Hurghada – a popular Red Sea destination known for its upscale all-inclusive resorts, as well as nearby desert and water excursions.

According to the World Health Organisation, around 81,000 to 138,000 people die globally each year from snakebites, while about three times that amount lead to amputations and other permanent disabilities.

While it’s unclear what kind of snake bit the man, it was suspected to be a cobra, which has more than 270 species, according to the University of Michigan.

Cobra venom contains neurotoxins that spread rapidly through the bloodstream, which can cause a victim to stop breathing and result in death. This can happen in as little as 30 minutes.

The only treatment is antivenom administered shortly after the bite, though a patient can also be kept alive on a ventilator until the paralysis subsides.