A student was killed by a black mamba snake after it entered a school classroom.
The deadly reptile sank its fangs into the 17-year-old Melody Chiputura's thigh, before anyone in the Zimbabwe school classroom noticed it had even slithered into the room.
Melody felt a sting in her leg before telling screaming out to the teacher in fear she had been bitten.
When the snake was finally spotted, Melody was rushed to hospital but died just 20 minutes later as the snake's venom spread through her body.
It is thought the snake may have entered the classroom when all the students were busy on the grounds doing sports activities.
Head teacher at Rushinga High School Christopher Murenga spoke about the incident to the The Herald Zimbabwe, saying: "She immediately cried out, saying that something had bitten her.
"We are all in shock. We have no idea where this snake came from. The classroom is far away from possible snake habitats."
Local media say the snake was killed by other students as panic erupted throughout the school.
Melody was buried near her home as her family come to terms with the sudden loss.
Her father Mr. Joseph Chipitura said: "This is hard to accept, and it is painful. I don't understand how a snake can get into a classroom and bite my daughter."
The black mamba is the world's second-longest venomous snake behind the King Cobra and can grow to be nearly 10ft-long.
The snakes are native to Africa and can be found often in woodlands, while their bite can release a neurotoxin that will kill a human in 20 minutes.
Despite being one of the deadliest snakes on the planet, the black mamba will only attack humans if threatened or cornered.
