SANParks.org Forums

Hello Everyone

For those of you who don't know, Geoff Lockwood was bitten by what he thought was the resident Boomslang at around 07h25 on Sunday morning in Talamati. I was outside my bungalow (no. 2) with him, when he stepped into the grass to take a photo of the Barred Owl chick, and it struck. He knocked it off, and then very calmly organised things around him, before being driven back to Jo'burg by Cynthia. Although it all happened so incredibly quickly, I'll have an image forever embedded in my mind of the snake attached to the front of his shin, just above his ankle.

When Pam and I arrived back in Jo'burg, we visited Geoff at around 19h00 in hospital, who by then had been given the necessary anti-venom serum.
He told us that whilst been driven to Jo'burg, and 3 hours after the bite, he started getting a nasty headache, and 2 hours later couldn't keep anything down. His family had prepped the hospital to expect him, and serum made its way to the hospital. The doctor, who was very experienced with snake bite, couldn't believe that a Boomslang had been on the ground and bitten him above the ankle. Tests were done on his blood, and after it wouldn't coagulate, more tests were done. They pricked his arm, and the blood just flowed and flowed. Proof of the Boomslang venom in his system. He was given the serum and when we saw him, seemed fairly comfortable. He will spend tonight in the hi-care respiratory unit under observation.

From being so isolated in Talamati, I'd like to comment on how quickly a network of help developed.
A big word of thanks to Pam my wife, Steven Whitfield - the section ranger at Tshokwane, the Wendy and Neill Richards, Stan Close and Lesley Pepworth party and Ben de Boer. Apologies if I've missed anyone out, but well done to those who got a very well oiled machine rolling in no time at all.

I'll send out further E-mails updating you on his well being.

Thinking of you Geoff and Cynthia!

All the Best
Wiggie.