A Queensland contractor is recovering after being bitten by a highly venomous brown snake for the second time in four years. Braydon Brighton, 27, was brush cutting knee-high grass on a cattle property near Gin Gin on January 30 when he felt two slaps on his leg and saw puncture wounds.
Mr Brighton said he usually kept a first aid kit under his car seat, but it was missing when he went to retrieve it. He tied a shirt around his leg to slow the venom and called his mother, who works at a local pharmacy, to alert emergency services.
The Queensland Ambulance Service splinted his leg before LifeFlight flew him to Bundaberg Hospital, about 100 kilometres away. Mr Brighton praised the helicopter crew for their quick response, saying a road trip could have been dire.
After being discharged, Mr Brighton bought a snake bite bandage kit for $50, calling it a worthwhile investment. LifeFlight medical educator Leah Harrison stressed the importance of knowing first aid in rural areas where medical help may be far away.
LifeFlight is conducting First Minutes Matter workshops across Queensland to teach emergency response skills. Mr Brighton admitted feeling like a 'deadset' fool for not being better prepared, especially after a similar bite in 2021.
