WATCH: Incredibly Deadly Snake Slithers Onto Tennis Court During Big Match — In Australia, Of Course!
The second-most venomous snake on the planet invaded and brought to a halt an important tennis match on Saturday in, where else, Australia.
Tennis athlete Dominic Thiem’s qualifying match against against James McCabe was interrupted when a venomous snake slithered it’s way onto the court.
Australia is famous for its wide variety of deadly and frightening creatures, and it seems even a tennis court isn’t necessarily a haven from the wild on the continent.
The Eastern Brown Snake, one of the most dangerous reptiles in Australia and the second-most venomous snake species on Earth, brought Saturday’s match to a stop. You know, so no one would die.
The snake is responsible for more deaths than any other species in the country, according to CNN.
“I really love animals, especially exotic ones,” former US Open champion Thiem told the Australian press. “But they said it was a really poisonous snake and it was close to the ballkids, so it was a really dangerous situation.”
He added, “It’s something that has never happened to me and is something I’ll definitely never forget.”
Luckily a snake handler was nearby because Australia, and the snake was removed from the court.
Video and images from the interruption were shared on social media:
You cannot make this up: a 50cm eastern brown snake — considered the second most venomous snake in the world — interrupted the Thiem-McCabe qualifying battle in Brisbane 😳
(video via Lblklk on Reddit) pic.twitter.com/QI5izBr6HN
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) December 30, 2023
First the tennis at the Brisbane International is suspended because of storms then one of the courts is suspended due to a snake on the court.
Straya pic.twitter.com/tPqc6xPIle
— Matthew Tewhatu (@mtewhatu) December 30, 2023
The Brisbane International is off to an unusual start… with tennis officials having to deal with snake invasion!@AdamJackson_9 #9News pic.twitter.com/39cusAvnOF
— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) December 30, 2023
Both athletes escaped without being attacked and no one from the crowd was injured by the venomous creature. Good news, because the description of the risk from Billabong Sanctuary is horrific.
The venom of the Eastern Brown Snake is rated as the second most toxic of all snake venoms in the world, next only to that of Inland Taipan (which is also a native of Australia).
The venom of an Eastern Brown Snake contains a cocktail of poisons. The most powerful ingredient is a neurotoxin, which paralyses the nerves of the heart, lungs and diaphragm, suffocating the victim. It also contains a powerful procoagulant.
So a bite would’ve been game, set, and match, we think.
