Warning after 'near fatal' adder bite in Ascot Heath leaves woman in hospital

A snake bite which left a woman in hospital for five days ‘could have killed her’.

Caroline Farago, 54, was bitten by an adder when walking in Ascot Heath at about 1.15pm on Wednesday, July 6.

She was with daughter Sarah and Dalmatian Skye when she trod on the snake, which was about two feet long.

Within 10 minutes, she could feel a cold sensation moving up her leg and initially went to Bracknell walk-in medical centre.

She was given an antihistamine but, after she collapsed at the walk-in centre, an ambulance took her to Wexham Park Hospital.

By the time she got there, her mouth was so swollen she could not speak.

She was given adrenalin and anti-venom treatment.

The next day her leg was swollen and black and she had to stay in hospital until Monday evening.

Caroline said: “What I should have done was call 999 immediately. I really want to alert people that this is really serious.”

She added: “I know they are a protected species and I am not anti snakes but this could have killed me.

“It was only on Saturday, July 9 when the plastic surgeon said ‘this is the first day you are out of danger’.”

Caroline still cannot walk and the venom started to destroy her blood. Doctors have told her recovery could take up to nine months.

She informed Ascot Racecourse, which owns the land, and has now put up a sign warning walkers.

It was thanks to the description of the snake given by daughter Sarah, 19, that the correct anti-venom could be found.

The snake was brown with a diamond pattern.

Clem Kouijzer runs Snake Professional, which manufactures handling equipment for venomous snakes and is involved with research into the reptiles.

He said anybody could have an anaphylactic reaction to an adder bite like Caroline, but it would be unusual for it to be fatal for a healthy adult.

“The danger with an adder bite is if it is a young child or an elderly person,” added Clem.