Re Spider-bite. Darwin Awards here: darwinawards.com <30 July 1999, California) Ken from Carlsbad accepted a dare and kissed a snake, landing himself in mortal danger yesterday. Ken proudly bragged to his friends about a deadly young rattlesnake that he had taken into captivity the week before. They teased him by calling him a "snake lover," and they urged, "kiss your girlfriend, Ken."
When he did, the 3-foot rattler bit him on the lower lip and pumped its sac of venom into the unfortunate man. His head and throat swelled to 2x normal size, and Emergency Room personnel pumped vial after vial of antivenin into his bloodstream in a fight for his life.
After 3 hours of intubation and 25 doses of antivenin, Ken was out of danger at the Tri-City Medical Center.
The swelling from snakebite can cause necrosis of the affected tissue, and Ken might have lost part of his face. He was fortunate, and will only see bruised and stretched facial skin in the mirror. But he will suffer the consequences of his foolish act for weeks, as flu-like symptoms set in, caused by an immune response to antivenin.
Dr. Neil Joebchen was quoted, "In 26 years, this is the worst case I've seen. His muscles were quivering like he had worms under the skin." >
For some strange reason, most of the Darwin Awards go to men. I guess that confirms the 'women don't do real bloke stuff' theory.
Mqurice |
