The exotic pet craze is fuelling soaring numbers of snakebites recorded in the UK, according to new research. In just over a decade, 321 cases involving 68 different species were registered by the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS).
They included 72 under-18s - of whom 13 were just five-years-old or younger. Nine patients were bitten twice - and one three times. Of those bitten, 15 had severe symptoms.
Tragic Luke Yeomans, 47, died in June 2011 after being attacked by a king cobra at his home in Nottingham. The conservationist had previously survived a bite from an eastern green mamba - and had been due to open a sanctuary to save snakes from extinction.
