Florence man remains in serious condition after bite from world’s deadliest snake, authorities say

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Florence man ******** in serious condition after ***** from world’s deadliest snake, authorities say

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — A Florence man ******** in serious condition after being bitten by the world’s most venomous snake — one of 14 that was eventually euthanized, authorities said Monday night.

Jeffrey Leibowitz called 911 about 2 a.m. on Friday after snake bit him inside his Marion Street home, but it wouldn’t be until hours later that officials learned the ******* was carried out by an inland taipan.

Police were notified around 9 a.m. that Leibowitz’s ***** was venomous, and obtained a search warrant for his home after views posts of the man handling snakes on his public

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

account.

Leibowitz remained in serious condition as of Monday night.

Authorities contacted state wildlife officials for assistance on how to handle and store the snakes, Florence Police Capt. Stephen Starling said Monday night.

The search yielded two cats and fourteen snakes, including one green mamba, two gaboon vipers, one fer-de-lace, one ****** adder, one eastern diamondback rattlesnake, two ****** forest cobras, two ****** rattlesnakes (species unknown), two neotropical rattlesnakes, one small rattlesnake (species unknown), and one inland taipan.

Jeff Camper, a biologist and snake specialist at Francis Marion University, said an *********** inland taipan — known for having the world’s most potent venom among its species — was responsible for the *****.

“It contains human toxic components as well as neurotoxic components .. and components that act on the muscles and the heart as well,” he said. “So it’s a very, very dangerous, potent venom.”

Camper said venom types can very from snake to snake, with some causing throbbing pain, intense swelling and skin discoloration.

Camper said one ***** from the same type of snake that bit the man could ***** up to 100 people. First responders treated the person on Marion Street with an antivenom flown in from Florida.

Camper said Leibowitz could be facing a long recovery.

“His body’s probably going to want to shut down relatively soon. My understanding is that he’s on a respirator, and that’s what’s needed for the patient to be able to continue breathing, as his diaphragm is likely paralyzed,” Camper said. “He may have long-lasting or permanent damage to various organs.”

Florence police say there aren’t any laws prohibiting the animals, but selling, transporting and rehoming them could violate state regulations.

Officials contacted several facilities including Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, Alligator Adventure, Reptile Lagoon and Edisto Island Serpentarium to find temporary holdings and proper care for the snakes.

None of them could accept the snakes due to unknown health and environmental concerns such as their living conditions and potential illnesses.

“Speaking with the facility experts and SCDNR, it was determined that the current habitats for these snakes was unsuitable and unsafe,” Starling said.

A family member took possession of the animals and signed a voluntary surrender form, giving them over to Florence police for euthanasia.

* * *

Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, and read more of her work

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Florence #man #******** #condition #***** #worlds #deadliest #snake #authorities

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up