Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.Photo:Getty
Getty
An Amazon driver in Florida is in “very serious condition” after a rattlesnake bit her on Monday during a package delivery.
The “highly venomous” snake “was coiled up near the front door” when the driver went to put the package down. It then bit her on “the back of her leg, just above the knee.”
The woman “immediately became ill and called 911” for help, the sheriff’s office said.
The MCSO said the driver was in “very serious condition” at the time.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office confirmed toABC Newsthat the victim was still in serious condition, but that she was also stable.
In a statement, Amazon tells PEOPLE that their “thoughts are with the driver” and that they hope for “a full recovery after this frightening incident.” The company added: “Together, with the Delivery Service Partner, we’re looking into the circumstances surrounding this incident and continue to make sure that drivers understand they should not complete a delivery if they feel unsafe.”
Eastern diamondbacks are commonly found “in the pinelands of Florida,” including the Martin County area where this one was spotted, as well as portions of North Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana, according to theSmithsonian National Zoo’s website.
The rattlesnakes are known as “North America’s longest and heaviest venomous snake,” averaging about 3 to 6 feet in length and weighing an average of about 10 lbs. They can also deliver a lethal dose of venom with their bite, and can strike a target as far as two-third of its body length, per the Smithsonian.
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MCSO spokesperson Christine Weiss told ABC News that those who live where these snakes live should be mindful of their surroundings and avoid being distracted.
“If you are scrolling through a phone while walking or at all distracted, you might not see them until it’s too late,” Weiss explained, later adding, “If you are wearing ear pods and not listening to the outside element, you will not likely hear that warning.”
source: people.com
