Below is a list of fatal

snakebite A snakebite is an injury caused by the bite of a snake, especially a venomous snake. A common sign of a bite from a venomous snake is the presence of two puncture wounds from the animal's fangs. Sometimes venom injection from the bite may occu ...

s that occurred in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. Omitted incidents include cases where someone died from falling after receiving a bite. Some of the comments include the first aid or treatment that was attempted. For the older fatalities, the term ligature meant wrapping a limb or finger with a string to act like a

tourniquet A tourniquet is a device that is used to apply pressure to a limb or extremity in order to stop the flow of blood. It may be used in emergencies, in surgery, or in post-operative rehabilitation. A simple tourniquet can be made from a stick and ...

, and the term scarify meant cutting the skin so blood flows out of the body, presumably to flush venom. Current practice advises not washing the affected body part so that medical personnel can sample venom residue on the skin to determine which type of snake was involved. Although Australian snakes can be very venomous, comparatively little is known about the protein compositions of

venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

s from Australian snakes, compared to those of Asia and America. Wide access to

antivenom Antivenom, also known as antivenin, venom antiserum, and antivenom immunoglobulin, is a specific treatment for envenomation. It is composed of antibodies and used to treat certain venomous bites and stings. Antivenoms are recommended only if th ...

and adequate medical care has made deaths exceedingly rare with only a few fatalities each year. Australian snakes possess potent venom: 5 of the world's top 10 most venomous snakes live in Australia. The estimated incidence of snakebites annually in Australia is between 3 and 18 per 100,000 with an average mortality rate of 0.03 per 100,000 per year, or roughly 1 to 2 persons, down from 13 persons per year in the 1920s. Between 1979 and 1998 there were 53 deaths from snakes, according to data obtained from the

Australian Bureau of Statistics The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is the independent statutory agency of the Australian Government responsible for statistical collection and analysis and for giving evidence-based advice to federal, state and territory governments ...

. Between 1942 and 1950 there were 56 deaths from snakebite recorded in Australia. Of 28 deaths in the 1945-1949 period, 18 occurred in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, 6 in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, 3 in

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

and 1 in

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

. Globally, 1.8–2.7 million people are envenomed annually, with more than 125,000 people dying, and for every fatality there are another 3 to 4 people permanently disabled. In 2017, the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...

added snakebite envenoming to their list of

Neglected tropical disease Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical disease, tropical infections that are common in low-income populations in Developing country, developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They are caused by a variety ...

s, requesting the cooperation of antivenom agencies worldwide. A

Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the democratic administrative authority of the Australian state of Queensland. The Government of Queensland, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy was formed in 1859 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended fr ...

occupational health publication says that "Snakes are not usually aggressive and do not seek confrontation with humans but may retaliate if provoked. The important thing to remember is to never attempt to catch or kill a snake – most snake bites occur when people are trying to do this."

19th century

20th century

1900s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="1900-11-01", November 1900 , , data-sort-value="" , 13yo girl ,

Bendigo, Victoria Bendigo ( ) is a city in Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. As of 2019, Bendigo had an urban populat ...

, - , data-sort-value="1901-12-01", December 1901 , Common Death Adder , data-sort-value="" , "a little lad" , Wiseman's Ferry

; bitten on the foot, died before the doctor arrived , - , data-sort-value="1902-10-01", October 1902 , Tiger Snake , data-sort-value="" , 15yo boy , Coonong,

; bitten on the calf while bird-catching, died four hours later , - , data-sort-value="1906-11-01", November 1906 , , data-sort-value="" , small boy ,

Yea, Victoria Yea ( ) is a town in Victoria, Australia north-east of the state capital Melbourne at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway and the Melba Highway, in the Shire of Murrindindi local government area. In an area originally inhabited by the T ...

, - , data-sort-value="1907-01-01", 1907 , , data-sort-value="mcknight, frances" , Frances McKnight , Middle Harbour, New South Wales; snake bit her three times on ankle while gathering wild-flowers , - , data-sort-value="1908-01-01", 1908 , , data-sort-value="harden, walter" , Walter Harden ,

Maroubra, New South Wales Maroubra is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is 10 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Randwick. Maroubra ...

, - , data-sort-value="1908-01-01", 1908 , , data-sort-value="whitechurch, ronald" , Ronald Whitechurch ,

Seymour, Victoria Seymour () is a historic railway township located in the Southern end of the Goulburn Valley in the Shire of Mitchell, Victoria, Australia and is located north of Melbourne. At the , Seymour had a population of 6,569. The township services t ...

, - , data-sort-value="1909-01-01", 1909 , , data-sort-value="mcday, hugh" , Hugh McDay ,

Deloraine, Tasmania Deloraine is a town on the Meander River, in the central north of Tasmania, Australia. It is 50 km west of Launceston and 52 km south of Devonport along the Bass Highway. It is part of the Meander Valley Council. Deloraine recorded ...

1910s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="1910-01-01", 1910 , Brown snake , data-sort-value="thomas, howard" , Howard Thomas ,

, - , data-sort-value="1910-03-01", March 1910 , , data-sort-value="" , 14yo male ,

Casterton, Victoria Casterton is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Glenelg Highway, 42 kilometres east of the South Australian border, in the Shire of Glenelg. The Glenelg River passes through the town. Casterton is named after the village of Caster ...

; was rabbiting with friends, bitten when put hand in a burrow to get a rabbit , - , data-sort-value="1913-01-01", 1913 ,

Eastern brown snake The eastern brown snake (''Pseudonaja textilis''), often referred to as the common brown snake, is a species of highly venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It was ...

, data-sort-value="see, garnett" , Garnett See ,

La Perouse, New South Wales La Perouse is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The suburb of La Perouse is located about southeast of the Sydney central business district, in the City of Randwick. The La Perouse peninsula is th ...

, snake show. , - , data-sort-value="1913-01-01", 1913 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="deline, harry" , Harry Deline ,

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, snake show. , - , data-sort-value="1914-01-01", 1914 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="rolfe, alex" , Alex Rolfe , No further details. , - , data-sort-value="1915-11-01", November 1915 , , data-sort-value="" , 21yo male ,

Laverton, Victoria Laverton established in 1886, is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Hobsons Bay and Wyndham local government areas. Laverton recorded a population of ...

, - , data-sort-value="1917-01-01", 1917 , , data-sort-value="vogel" , Vogel boy ,

Tintaldra, Victoria Tintaldra is a town in northeast Victoria, Australia in the Shire of Towong local government area and on the upper reaches of the Murray River, northeast of the state capital, Melbourne and east of the regional centre of Wodonga. At the , Ti ...

, - , data-sort-value="1917-01-01", 1917 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="vowells, george" , George Vowells ,

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, Antidote vendor.

1920s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="1920-03-13", 13 March 1920 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="caton, teresa" , Teresa Caton, 26yo female ,

, a carnival girl was bitten while 'playing' with some snakes belonging to snake showman Thomas Wanless. The wound was scarified, a ligature applied, and Wanless' antidote administered. The victim refused further treatment until 12 hours after the bite, which was too late. Wanless died the following year in South Africa from a Green mamba bite. , - , data-sort-value="1920-12-13", 13 December 1920 , Unknown , data-sort-value="telford, colleera" , Colleera Telford, 3yo female ,

Apollo Bay, Victoria Apollo Bay is a coastal town in southwestern Victoria, Australia. It is situated on the eastern side of Cape Otway, along the edge of the Barham River and on the Great Ocean Road, in the Colac Otway Shire. The town had a population of 1,790 at ...

; Bitten while at her parents' dairy farm. Puncture marks found on leg after death. , - , data-sort-value="1925-12-01", December 1925 , Tiger Snake , data-sort-value="mcpherson, charles" , Charles McPherson , Molesworth,

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

; bitten while sitting on a tarpaulin, reading, on a camping trip. The wound was incised and cleansed and a ligature applied. He died in hospital 12 hours after being bitten. , - , data-sort-value="1926-07-01", July 1926 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="byden, maud frances" , Maud Frances Byden, 29yo female ,

, the woman was trying to bag a 4ft long brown snake and it bit her above the knee. , - , data-sort-value="1927-10-01", October 1927 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="pollack, ernest" , Ernest Pollack, middle-aged male ,

Fitzroy, Victoria Fitzroy is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Yarra local government area. Fitzroy recorded a population of 10,431 at the 2021 census. Pl ...

, having collected and bagged several specimens earlier in the day, he was found at home having been bitten. , - , data-sort-value="1928-01-01", 1928 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="vane, dot" , Dot Vane ,

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

, snake show, wife of Rocky Vane. , - , data-sort-value="1928-05-01", May 1928 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="french, c j" , C.J. French ,

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

, bitten on the forearm while giving a demonstration to children at the Adelaide Zoo where he was the curator of the snake park which was opened just two months earlier. Ligature, cut and sucked wound, applied permanganate crystals. He later died at hospital. , - , data-sort-value="1929-02-01", February 1929 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="melrose, harry" , Harry Melrose, 42yo male ,

, William Henry Melrose, a partner of Rocky Vane's, was showing off with a bag of snakes he was bitten on the hand. He was taken to hospital where the wound was scarified and other remedies applied. He died two days after being bitten.

1930s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="1930-01-01", 1930 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="davis, pegleg" , Pegleg Davis , Snake handling. , - , data-sort-value="1930-02-01", February 1930 ,

Common Death adder The common death adder (''Acanthophis antarcticus'') is a species of death adder native to Australia. It is one of the most venomous land snakes in Australia and globally. While it remains widespread (unlike related species), it is facing increa ...

, data-sort-value="pratt, rachel" , Rachel Pratt, 11yo female ,

Toowoomba, Queensland Toowoomba ( , nicknamed 'The Garden City' and 'T-Bar') is a city in the Toowoomba Region of the Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia. It is west of Queensland's capital city Brisbane by road. The urban population of Toowoomba as of the 2021 C ...

, bitten on the foot, brought to hospital but died 3 hours later. , - , data-sort-value="1930-03-20", 20 March 1930 , Undisclosed , data-sort-value="wilson, dulcie joan" , Dulcie Joan Wilson, 5yo female , Laceby South. , - , data-sort-value="1930-08-01", August 1930 , Brown snake , data-sort-value="neimi, ernest christian" , Ernest Christian Neimi, 25yo male , near

Ingham, Queensland Ingham is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Hinchinbrook, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Ingham had a population of 4,426 people. It is named after William Bairstow Ingham and is the administrative centre for the Shire o ...

, stepped on the snake and bitten on the ankle, he cut the wound and applied a ligature and antidote. He was rushed to hospital where he died. , - , data-sort-value="1931-04-01", April 1931 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="murray, james" , James/Jimmy Murray, 19yo male ,

Marrawah Marrawah is a small town in the north of the West Coast of Tasmania, Australia. Marrawah is located in the former shire of Wellington, now part of the Circular Head Council area. At the 2006 census, Marrawah had a population of 407. Marrawah ...

, Tasmania, was giving a demonstration. Murray was a snake dealer who caught numerous snakes and sold them to

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research WEHI (), previously known as the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and as the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, is Australia's oldest medical research institute. Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, who won the Nobel Prize in 1960 for ...

for venom extraction and research. , - , data-sort-value="1932-01-01", 1932 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="graves, john" , John Graves ,

Whittlesea, Victoria Whittlesea is a town in Victoria, Australia, north-east from Melbourne's central business district, located within the City of Whittlesea local government area. Whittlesea recorded a population of 6,117 at the . History The Post Office opened ...

, Snake handling , - , data-sort-value="1932-02-01", February 1932 , Undisclosed , data-sort-value="cole, mervyn mrs" , Mrs. Mervyn Cole, 43yo female ,

Horsham, Victoria Horsham () is a regional city in the Wimmera region of western Victoria, Australia. Located on a bend in the Wimmera River, Horsham is approximately northwest of the state capital Melbourne. As of the 2021 Census, Horsham had a population of 2 ...

; was bitten on the foot while fishing and died several hours later. , - , data-sort-value="1932-03-01", March 1932 , Undisclosed , data-sort-value="barham, raymond george" , Raymond George Barham, 13yo male ,

Gosford, New South Wales Gosford is the city and administrative centre of the Central Coast Council (New South Wales), Central Coast Council local government area in the heart of the Central Coast (New South Wales), Central Coast region, about north of Sydney central ...

, testimony at a coroner inquest: a ligature was applied and a half-hour later the doctor said black snakes weren't venomous and they removed the ligature. , - , data-sort-value="1934-03-15", 15 March 1934 , Brown snake , data-sort-value="thompson, archibald" , Mr Archibald Thompson, 56yo male ,

Greta, New South Wales Greta is a small town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. History The Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Maitland area are the Wonnarua people. The Greta area was first colonized by Europeans around Anvil Creek in the 183 ...

; bitten while in the bush, scarified, ligature applied. , - , data-sort-value="1934-12-01", December 1934 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="mitchell, julius" , Julius Mitchell, 58yo male ,

Kurri Kurri, New South Wales Kurri Kurri is a small town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, in the Cessnock LGA. At the , its population was 6,044. Kurri Kurri is the largest town in a group of towns and hamlets, including Stanford Merthyr, Pelaw Main, ...

, known as Milo the Snake Man, he was exhibiting his snakes when one bit him on the hand as he was trying to put it back in its box. He made incisions and applied a liquid, tied a loose ligature, and refused further medical treatment. , - , data-sort-value="1935-10-24", 24 October 1935 ,

Sea snake Sea snakes, or coral reef snakes, are elapid snakes that inhabit marine environments for most or all of their lives. They belong to two subfamilies, Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae. Hydrophiinae also includes Australasian terrestrial snakes, wher ...

, data-sort-value="fukami, maso" , Maso Fukami, 23yo male , Thirty mile offshore

Bathurst Island, Northern Territory Bathurst Island (Iwaidja language, Iwaidja: ''Nguyu'') (, ) is one of the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory off the northern coast of Australia along with Melville Island, Northern Territory, Melville Island. __TOC__ Description The large ...

, a Japanese pearl diver was grasped by an 8ft sea snake on his wrist. The diver tore the snake off him, was hauled aboard, a ligature applied. , - , data-sort-value="1936-10-08", 8 October 1936 , Death adder , data-sort-value="valese, luigi" , Luigi Valese, 4yo male ,

Mossman, Queensland Mossman is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia. It is the administrative centre for the Douglas Shire Council In the , the locality of Mossman had a population of 1,937 people. Geography Mossman in Far N ...

; Bitten on his cane farm while in the fields with his father. , - , data-sort-value="1939-08-01", August 1939 , Brown snake , data-sort-value="kalloch, oley j" , Oley J. Kalloch, 52yo male ,

, found five to seven days after his death by a fellow miner and friend, Kalloch had written his will in charcoal on a piece of newspaper, saying he was bitten by a big brown snake. There was a ligature on his leg and his big toe was lanced for scarifying.

1940s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="1940-10-01", October 1940 , Unidentified , data-sort-value="wells, norma" , Miss Norma Wells, 12 year old daughter , Bitten on the foot while walking beside the

Goulburn River The Goulburn River, a major inland perennial river of the Goulburn Broken catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine, Northern Country/North Central, and Southern Riverina regions of the Australian state of Victoria. ...

, died later in hospital. , - , data-sort-value="1946-09-01", September 1946 , Undisclosed , data-sort-value="boyd, norman james" , Norman Boyd, 4yo male ,

Hampton, New South Wales Hampton is a locality in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The locality is in the City of Lithgow The City of Lithgow is a local government area in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is loc ...

; He was bitten while playing outside his home and later died after doctors failed to revive him. , - , data-sort-value="1948-01-01", January 1948 , Tiger Snake , data-sort-value="townson, dorothy vera" , Dorothy Vera Townson , Pelion Hut, Overland Track,

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

; She had been bitten twice on the lower right leg by a snake, believed to be a tiger snake, about 11.30 am on Wednesday. The snake hung on and bruised her leg after the second strike. The punctures were lacerated and tourniquets applied, but the treatment was ineffective, and Miss Townson died at 4.30 am on Thursday. Numerous hikers took turns carrying her body by litter 24 miles in 18 hours to get her down off the mountain.

1950s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="1950-07-28", 28 July 1950 , Coastal taipan , data-sort-value="budden, kevin" ,

Kevin Budden Kevin Clifford Budden (1930 – July 28, 1950) was an amateur Australian herpetologist and snake hunter. Budden was the first person to capture a live taipan for research and died from a snakebite in the process of doing so. His work was instrumen ...

, 20yo male ,

Cairns Cairns (, ) is a city in Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. The population in June 2019 was 153,952, having grown on average 1.02% annually over the preceding five years. The city is the 5th-most-p ...

; specimen captured and subsequently milked by

David Fleay David Howells Fleay (; 6 January 1907 – 7 August 1993) was an Australian scientist and biologist who pioneered the captive breeding of endangered species, and was the first person to breed the platypus (''Ornithorhynchus anatinus'') i ...

to produce first antivenom. , - , data-sort-value="1956-01-01", 1956 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="bell, curley" , Curley Bell , Haywood swamps, snake collecting.

1970s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="1972-01-01", January 1972 , Undisclosed , data-sort-value="turner, mark" , Mark Turner, 6yo male ,

Lowmead, Queensland Lowmead is a rural town and locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Lowmead had a population of 156 people. Geography The town is situated in the north of the locality on the North Coast railway line which passes th ...

, bitten on his shin on his father's property. , - , data-sort-value="1973-01-01", January 1973 , brown snake , data-sort-value="sacco, leonard" , Leonard Sacco, 38yo male , Glenlyon, Queensland, was bitten while out shooting rabbits. , - , data-sort-value="1973-06-01", June 1973 , brown snake , data-sort-value="murphy, john" , John Murphy, 55yo male ,

Charters Towers Charters Towers is a rural town in the Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia. It is by road south-west from Townsville on the Flinders Highway. During the last quarter of the 19th century, the town boomed as the rich gold deposits under ...

, Queensland, did not consider the bite serious and didn't seek care until he collapsed five hours later. , - , data-sort-value="1977-01-01", 1977 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="kennedy, gordon" , Gordon Kennedy ,

Brighton, Tasmania Brighton is a suburb 27 km north of Hobart, in Tasmania, Australia. It is between Pontville and the outer Hobart suburb of Bridgewater on the Midland Highway. At the 2016 census, Brighton had a population of 4,983. History From 1826 o ...

, snake exhibition. , - , data-sort-value="1977-01-01", 1977 , P. australis? , data-sort-value="duffy, fred" , Fred Duffy ,

Darwin, Northern Territory Darwin ( ; Larrakia: ) is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. With an estimated population of 147,255 as of 2019, the city contains the majority of the residents of the sparsely populated Northern Territory. It is the smalle ...

, snake exhibition.

1980s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="1986-01-01", 1986 , Western brown snake , data-sort-value="" , 61yo female ,

Cervantes, Western Australia Cervantes is a town in Western Australia located off of Indian Ocean Drive about north-north-west of the state capital, Perth in the Shire of Dandaragan local government area. At the 2016 census, Cervantes had a population of 527. The town ...

, bitten on lower leg, walked a distance, no first aid , - , data-sort-value="1989-01-01", 1989 , Western brown snake , data-sort-value="" , 33yo female ,

Carnarvon, Western Australia Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately north of Perth, in Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Re ...

, unnoticed, no first aid, discovered at autopsy

1990s

, data-sort-value="" , 50yo male ,

Bundaberg, Queensland Bundaberg is a city in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia, and is the List of places in Queensland by population, tenth largest city in the state. Bundaberg's Bundaberg Regional Council, regional area has a population of 70,921, and is ...

, - , data-sort-value="1993-02-24", 24 February 1993 , Western Brown Snake/Gwardar , data-sort-value="" , 31yo male ,

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gai ...

, unwitnessed, snake in bucket, victim found unconscious with head injuries. Assumed to have been bitten, resulting in a fall. Antivenom administered at Derby Hospital but with no improvement. Patient air-ambulanced to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where he died. , - , data-sort-value="1994-02-06", 6 February 1994 , Northern death adder , data-sort-value="scott, richard" , Richard Scott, 2yo male ,

Fitzroy Crossing Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...

, Western Australia, bite not witnessed but confirmed by autopsy. , - , data-sort-value="1997-12-01", 1 December 1997 , Western Brown Snake/Gwardar , data-sort-value="plane, murray" , Murray Plane, 33yo male , Tarmoola Gold Mine, North of

Leonora, Western Australia Leonora is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located northeast of the state capital, Perth, and north of the city of Kalgoorlie. History The first European explorer to visit the area was John Forrest in 1869. ...

; Man inebriated and handling snake which he and his friends found in miners' quarters during the night of 1 December. Air-ambulanced to Royal Perth Hospital where he subsequently died on 4 December. , - , data-sort-value="1998-10-31", 31 Oct 1998 ,

Desert Death Adder The desert death adder (''Acanthophis pyrrhus'') is a species of snake native to Australia and is one of the most venomous land snakes in the world. The desert death adder is under threat due to the destruction of habitat. Description Desert d ...

, data-sort-value="ross, michael" , Michael Ross, 9yo male ,

Broome, Western Australia Broome, also known as Rubibi by the Yawuru people, is a coastal pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. In the the population was recorded as 14,660. It is the largest town in the Kimberley reg ...

, bite not witnessed. Died en route to hospital 180 km away.{{cite web, url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~bush/wadeaths.html , title=Snakebite deaths in Western Australia 1980-2010 , publisher=Members.iinet.net.au , access-date=2019-12-09 , - , data-sort-value="1998-11-05", 5 Nov 1998 , Tiger Snake , data-sort-value="patterson, tony" , Tony Patterson, 14yo male ,

High Wycombe, Western Australia High Wycombe () is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, within the City of Kalamunda. High Wycombe lies east of the Perth CBD at the base of the Darling Scarp (commonly referred to as the ''foothills''). Formerly part of Maida Vale, the suburb ...

, bitten on hand while photographing snake. Initial first aid inadequate, followed by collapse, hospitalization with antivenoms. , - , data-sort-value="1999-01-01", 1999 , Tiger Snake , data-sort-value="mcglashan, joey" , Joey McGlashan, 7yo male ,

Kennett River, Victoria Kennett River is a small seaside town in Victoria, Australia. Situated west of Melbourne, on the Otway Coast portion of the scenic Great Ocean Road, Kennett River is a popular tourist destination from the resort town of Lorne, Victoria. Hi ...

, - , data-sort-value="1999-11-29", 29 Nov 1999 , Western Brown Snake/Gwardar , data-sort-value="" , Male, 35yo , Broome, caught snake on 27 Nov. and was bitten while showing snake being placed in a bag. Received antivenom at hospital shortly after.

21st century

2000s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="2003-01-01", 2003 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Unnamed, elderly female ,

Kew, Victoria Kew (;) is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, 5 km east from Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the City of Boroondara Local government areas of Victor ...

; bitten while pruning vines. , - , data-sort-value="2006-01-02", 2 January 2006 , Brown snake , data-sort-value="corbett, bevan" , Bevan Corbett, 20yo male ,

Cobar, New South Wales Cobar is a town in central western New South Wales, Australia whose economy is based mainly upon base metals and gold mining. The town is by road northwest of the state capital, Sydney. It is at the crossroads of the Kidman Way and Barrier Hig ...

; bitten repeatedly while jogging. , - , data-sort-value="2007-04-16", 16 April 2007 , Whip snake , data-sort-value="siggins, ron" , Ron Siggins, 37yo male ,

Harcourt, Victoria Harcourt is a small Central Highlands town located approximately 9 km northeast of Castlemaine, where the Midland Highway meets the Calder Highway. At the 2021 census, Harcourt had a population of 1,038. The town was named after Sir Wil ...

; bitten on the finger by a snake considered no more deadly than a bee-sting. The victim had been handling snakes for over 30 years and had been bitten by Whip snakes before. , - , data-sort-value="2007-01-14", 14 January 2007 ,

, data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Undisclosed name, 16yo boy ,

Whalan, New South Wales Whalan is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Whalan is located 45 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia, local government area of the City of Blacktown and is p ...

; bitten on hand, it is believed his trek to find help in hot conditions may have advanced spread of venom. , - , data-sort-value="2007-03-10", 10 March 2007 ,

, data-sort-value="swilks, milena" , Milena Swilks, 9yo female ,

Rocky River, New South Wales Rocky River is a locality in northern New South Wales, Australia near the town of Uralla on the Northern Tablelands plateau. About three kilometres west of Uralla, was the gold mining area and associated village also called Rocky River. In 185 ...

, bitten on her foot in a vegetable patch and died two hours later. , - , data-sort-value="2009-01-15", 15 January 2009 , Western brown snake , data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Undisclosed name, 60yo female ,

2010s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , data-sort-value="2010-11-26", 26 November 2010 , Western Brown Snake/Gwardar , data-sort-value="thorpe, michael" , Michael Thorpe, 43yo male ,

Gingin, Western Australia Gingin is a town in Western Australia, located on the Brand Highway north of the Perth city centre. It is the council seat for the Shire of Gingin local government area. Gingin had a population of 852 at the . The town's economy is mostly base ...

, bitten on the toe by a 50 cm snake and died 2½ hours later after being transported to hospital and receiving antivenom.{{cite web, author=Katherine Fenech , url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/gingin-man-dies-after-freak-snake-bite-20101201-18g55.html , title=Western Brown Snake Bite Kills Gingin Man , publisher=Watoday.com.au , date=2010-12-01 , access-date=2012-11-09, Bitten on toe while in house on computer. No immediate first aid. , - , data-sort-value="2011-09-11", 11 September 2011 ,

, data-sort-value="steers, ben" , Ben Steers, 17yo ,

Warwick, Queensland Warwick ( ) is a town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in southeast Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Region Local government in Australia, local governme ...

, - , data-sort-value="2011-11-02", 2 November 2011 ,

, data-sort-value="pails, narelle" , Narelle Pails, 42yo ,

, - , data-sort-value="2011-11-17", 17 November 2011 ,

, data-sort-value="smith, andrew" , Andrew Smith, 35yo ,

Emerald, Queensland Emerald is a rural town and locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Emerald had a population of 14,906 people. The town is the headquarters for the Central Highlands Regional Council. Geography Emerald lies ...

, - , data-sort-value="2012-10-08", 8 October 2012 ,

, data-sort-value="leishman, ashley" , Ashley Leishman, 26yo male ,

Miles, Queensland Miles is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Miles had a population of 1,746 people. Geography The town is on the Warrego Highway, west of Brisbane, the state capital, 211 kil ...

, - , data-sort-value="2012-11-01", 1 November 2012 , Coastal Taipan , data-sort-value="vaughan, andrew" , Andrew Vaughan, 57yo male ,

Yeppoon, Queensland Yeppoon is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Livingstone, Queensland, Australia. Yeppoon is renowned for its beaches, tropical climate, and the islands out on the bay. Located from the city of Rockhampton, Yeppoon is the seat of the ...

, - , data-sort-value="2012-12-03", 3 December 2012 , Brown snake , data-sort-value="field, colin" , Colin Field, 80yo male ,

Wilsons Plains, Queensland Wilsons Plains is a rural Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wilsons Plains had a population of 50 people. History The Fassifern railway line (Queensland's first branch railwa ...

, - , data-sort-value="2013-03-10", 10 March 2013 , Stephen's banded snake , data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Undisclosed name, 60yo male , Kalang,

, man was bitten on the hand. It took three hours to rescue him due to flooding and he didn't reach hospital until 7 hours after the bite. , - , data-sort-value="2013-04-23", 23 April 2013 , Gwardar , data-sort-value="berry, karl" , Karl Berry, 26yo ,

, - , data-sort-value="2013-11-02", 2 November 2013 , Unknown , data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Undisclosed name, 59yo female , Glen Oak, New South Wales; most likely bitten by an Eastern brown snake

Pseudonaja textilis The eastern brown snake (''Pseudonaja textilis''), often referred to as the common brown snake, is a species of highly venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It was ...

, - , data-sort-value="2014-10-08", 8 October 2014 , Western Brown Snake/Gwardar , data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Undisclosed name, 41yo male ,

Laverton, Western Australia Laverton, originally known as British Flag, is a town in the Goldfields region of Western Australia, and the centre of administration for the Shire of Laverton. The town of Laverton is located at the western edge of the Great Victoria Desert, no ...

, bitten multiple times on hand and arm while trying to grab and kill snake. Refused first aid and collapsed 45 minutes later. , - , data-sort-value="2014-11-06", 6 November 2014 , Tiger Snake , data-sort-value="tatti, shane" , Shane Tatti, 27yo male , Jarrahmond,

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, bitten on the wrist while weeding along a river bank. Tatti died despite getting the ordinary antivenom dose, but later testing revealed he had active venom in his system after his death, leading to debates in the toxicology field about antivenom protocols.{{Cite web, url=https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/is-one-dose-of-antivenom-enough-rare-tiger-snake-attacks-stir-up-controversy-20181230-p50ou8.html, title=Is one dose of antivenom enough? Rare tiger snake attacks stir up controversy, first=Aisha, last=Dow, date=30 December 2018, website=The Sydney Morning Herald , - , data-sort-value="2014-12-01", December 2014 , Unknown , data-sort-value="kowalski, dane" , Dane Kowalski, 27yo male , 95 km south of

Coober Pedy, South Australia Coober Pedy () is a town in northern South Australia, north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. The town is sometimes referred to as the "opal capital of the world" because of the quantity of precious opals that are mined there. Coober Pedy is ...

; presumed bitten. His body was found 3 months after his vehicle was found after he went missing. , - , data-sort-value="2015-01-03", 3 January 2015 , Tiger snake , data-sort-value="z, mrs" , Mrs. Z., 70yo female ,

Melton, Victoria Melton is a satellite city located west from Melbourne CBD. It is the administrative centre of the City of Melton Local government areas of Victoria, local government area and its most populous centre. At June 2019 Melton had an urban populatio ...

, bitten on her toe in her sleep in bed. She received two vials of antivenom within 3 hours after the bites, and a third vial later. , - , data-sort-value="2015-08-17", 17 August 2015 , Unconfirmed, possibly a Speckled brown snake, Tiger snake or

Dugite The dugite (; ''Pseudonaja affinis'') is a species of venomous, potentially lethal, snake native to Western Australia, a member of the Family (biology), family Elapidae. The word dugite is an anglicisation of names for the snake in some dialects ...

, data-sort-value="wortham, anne" , Anna Wortham ,

South Fremantle, Western Australia South Fremantle is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Fremantle. History The first development in the area may have been when Richard Goldsmith Meares established a lime-burning kiln in 1831. Meares had arrived at ...

, bitten on heel while out walking. , - , data-sort-value="2015-10-25", 25 October 2015 , Brown Snake or Taipan (Unconfirmed) , data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Undisclosed name, 62yo male ,

Townsville, Queensland Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...

, - , data-sort-value="2016-02-05", 5 February 2016 ,

, data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Undisclosed name, 6yo female ,

Walgett, New South Wales Walgett is a town in northern New South Wales, Australia, and the seat of Walgett Shire. It is near the junctions of the Barwon and Namoi Rivers and the Kamilaroi and Castlereagh Highways. In 2016, Walgett had a population of 2,145. In the 2 ...

, - , data-sort-value="2016-04-10", 10 April 2016 , Coastal Taipan , data-sort-value="cameron, wayne" , Wayne Cameron, 54yo male ,

Rockhampton, Queensland Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of the ...

, - , data-sort-value="2016-12-26", 26 December 2016 , Coastal Taipan , data-sort-value="pitt, david" , David Pitt, 77yo male , Yorkeys Knob, north of Cairns,

, - , data-sort-value="2018-01-10", 10 January 2018 ,

, data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Brent Crough, 24yo male ,

Tamworth, New South Wales Tamworth is a city and administrative centre of the north-western region of New South Wales, Australia. Situated on the Peel River (New South Wales), Peel River within the local government area of the Tamworth Regional Council, it is the largest ...

, - , data-sort-value="2018-02-05", 5 February 2018 , Unknown , data-sort-value="martin, sinita" , Sinita Martin, 27yo female ,

Meekatharra, Western Australia Meekatharra is a town in the Mid West (Western Australia), Mid West region of Western Australia. Meekatharra is a Yamatji word meaning "place of little water". At the 2016 Australian census, 2016 census, Meekatharra had a population of 708, wit ...

; The 27-year-old victim's unborn baby also died as a result of the snake bite. , - , data-sort-value="2018-04-19", 19 April 2018 ,

, data-sort-value="bryant, aaron" , Aaron Bryant, 46yo male ,

Deeragun, Queensland Deeragun is an outer western town and suburb of Townsville in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the , Deeragun had a population of 4,250 people. Geography Deeragun is located approximately west of the Townsville CBD. Deeragu ...

; A man carried the snake over to a neighbor to see if he could identify it, saying it had bitten him. He collapsed shortly afterwards. , - , data-sort-value="2018-10-04", 4 October 2018 , Unknown

species , data-sort-value="evans, harry" , Harry Evans, 23yo male , Offshore, near Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory; Bitten while pulling in a net. First sea snake fatality in Australia since 1935. , - , data-sort-value="2018-10-09", 9 October 2018 , Unknown , data-sort-value="nicholls, mary" , Mary Nicholls, 83yo female ,

Koorda, Western Australia Koorda is a town in the north eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately east of Perth and north of Wyalkatchem at the northeastern end of the Cowcowing Lakes. It is the main town in the Shire of Koorda. At the 2016 census ...

, bitten on ankle while pushing a wheelbarrow. Victim told her son she felt the snake brush past but didn't think she was bitten, though blood was found on closer examination. Following symptoms of vomiting, she was placed in an induced coma but died in hospital in Perth. , - , data-sort-value="2018-12-29", 29 December 2018 , Tiger Snake , data-sort-value="edwards, callum" , Callum Edwards, 20yo male , Lardner, 5 km south-west of

Warragul, Victoria Warragul is a town in Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne. Warragul lies between the Strzelecki Ranges to the south and the Mount Baw Baw Plateau of the Great Dividing Range to the north. As of the , the town had a population of 19,85 ...

; Bitten whilst attending the Beyond the Valley music festival on 29 December 2018 and was airlifted to hospital, where he died on 1 January 2019. His death was initially suspected to have occurred from a drug overdose, however medical staff later found traces of tiger snake venom in his system. , - , data-sort-value="2019-03-17", 17 March 2019 , Unknown , data-sort-value="scattini, nathan" , Nathan Scattini, 45yo male ,

Champion Lakes, Western Australia Champion Lakes is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia in the City of Armadale. The suburb was originally part of Camillo, but was renamed along with the proposal for a large water-based recreation facility that was constructed in the area, ...

; Nathan Scattini telephoned emergency services, saying he had been bitten by a snake on 17 March while bushwalking in the

Kelmscott Kelmscott is a village and civil parish on the River Thames in West Oxfordshire, about east of Lechlade in neighbouring Gloucestershire. Since 2001 it has absorbed Little Faringdon, which had been a separate civil parish. The 2011 Census reco ...

area. Emergency services were unable to locate Scattini or make further contact and a search operation commenced. Police located Scattini's body in bushland on 19 March. , - , data-sort-value="2019-10-30", 23 October 2019 , Western brown snake , data-sort-value="ZZZ" , Dale Steele, 68yo male ,

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

; A tourist from South Australia died while camping in the

Garig Gunak Barlu National Park Garig Gunak Barlu is a protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia on the Cobourg Peninsula and some adjoining waters about north-east of the territory capital of Darwin. It was established by joining the former Gurig National Park ...

. He sought help at the ranger's station, but lost consciousness and died.

2020s

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - " ! style="width:100px;" , Date ! style="width:150px;" , Species ! style="width:200px;" , Name, age ! class="unsortable" style="width:550px;" , Location; Comments , - , date-sort-value="2020-01-28, 28 January 2020 , Tiger Snake , data-sort-value="fish, winston" , Winston Fish, 78yo male ,

Oatlands, Tasmania Oatlands is an important historical village on the shores of Lake Dulverton in the centre of Tasmania, Australia. Oatlands is located 84 km north of Hobart and 115 km south of Launceston on the Midland Highway. At the 2016 censu ...

; bitten at least five times by a large snake while travelling on his farm, died at

Royal Hobart Hospital The Royal Hobart Hospital is a public hospital in the Hobart CBD, Tasmania, Australia. The hospital also functions as a teaching hospital in co-operation with the University of Tasmania. The hospital's research facilities are known as the Roya ...

two days later. , - , data-sort-value="2020-01-18", 30 January 2020 ,

, data-sort-value="taylor, roger" , Roger Taylor, 76yo male , Vale View, Queensland; Passed out in Princess Alexandra hospital several days after being bitten approximately 4 times by a Brown Snake while moving nets at his Vale View property. Initially unaware of severity, the victim drove approximately 30 minutes to Toowoomba to attend a gathering where he collapsed and hit his head. , - , 20 September 2020 ,

, Timote Ongosia, 40yo male ,

Dimbulah, Queensland Dimbulah is a town and locality in Far North Queensland, Australia, from Cairns by road, on the Atherton Tableland. It is within the local government area of Shire of Mareeba (between 2008 and 2013, it was within the Tablelands Region). In the ...

; Tongan seasonal fruit picker, died in

Cairns Hospital Cairns Hospital, known as the Cairns Base Hospital between 1932 and 2013, is the largest major hospital in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is located at 165 The Esplanade, Cairns North, Cairns. The hospital offers general services to Cair ...

two days later. , - , 20 May 2021 , Unknown , Vange Missios, 49yo male ,

Taradale, Victoria Taradale is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It is located beside the Calder Highway between Melbourne and Bendigo. Its local government area is the Shire of Mount Alexander. At the , Taradale had a population of 448. The town is also loca ...

; Had been working on a landscaping job on May 12 before visiting a local transfer station where he collapsed, suffering cardiac arrest. Paramedics worked on him for an hour and a half and his heart stopped three times as they tried to save him. It was later discovered that he had unknowingly been bitten by a snake at some point that day. He was placed in an induced coma and on life support for days following, but died on May 20. , - , 21 November 2021 , Unknown , Tristian Frahm, 11yo male ,

Murgon, Queensland Murgon is a rural town and locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Murgon had a population of 2,378 people. Geography Murgon is in the region of Queensland known as the South Burnett, the southern ...

; bitten while visiting a property with his father, who was later charged with manslaughter after failing to seek medical attention. , - , 2 November 2022 ,

, Michelle Geary, 55yo female ,

Gayndah, Queensland Gayndah is a town and locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Gayndah had a population of 1,981 people. It is the administrative centre for the North Burnett Region. Geography Gayndah is on the Burnett River and ...

, - , 28 January 2023 , Unknown , Unknown, 60s male ,

Kensington Grove, Queensland Kensington Grove is a rural/residential locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Co ...

{{cite news, url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/snake-bite-claims-life-of-south-east-queensland-man-20230128-p5cg5y/, title=Snake bite claims life of south-east Queensland man, accessdate=28 January 2023

References

{{Reflist

External links

Australian Snakes - Overview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Australia, Snake Attacks In Lists of deaths due to animal attacks in Australia

19th century

20th century

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1970s

1980s

1990s

21st century

2000s

2010s

2020s

See also

References

External links