Idaho Wal-Mart Rattlesnake Bites Man, Disfigures Him Permanently?
An Idaho Wal-Mart rattlesnake bit a man Saturday while he was shopping in the retail store. The man had to seek medical attention for his injury.
The Idaho Wal-Mart rattlesnake was masquerading as a stick in the retail giant's outdoor garden department when it was discovered, according to the Associate Press. Mica Craig, of Clarkston, Washington, was innocently shopping when he spied what he thought was a twig on the ground.
When the man bent down to remove what he thought was a stick from the way of other shoppers, the rattlesnake slithered, biting his hand and latching on. Craig screamed out for help, then began to shake his hand to get the pit viper off.
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The 47-year-old man managed to shake the rattlesnake loose, then stomped the creature to death.
Although Craig freed himself from the viper's fangs, he couldn't do it before the snake was able to poison him badly. Rattlesnake venom destroys organic tissue, causing necrosis and blood clotting, so he needed medical attention immediately.
A bystander transported Craig to a local emergency room, according to The Lewiston Tribune. While there, the middle-aged man was treated with six bags of anti-venom to stop the poison from doing further harm. Most rattlesnake bites are not fatal, but the bite could still leave Craig scarred for life.
Craig was told that his maimed hand could stay disfigured for life, according to reports. Medical staff will keep him hospitalized until Tuesday.
It is unknown if Craig will take legal action against Wal-Mart for the potentially lifelong injury.
A similar incident nearly took place in Springdale, Arkansas. Two men, Ryan Cornelison and Aaron Hull, said that Cornelison was bitten by a snake in the garden department.
The Springdale Fire Department responded soon after and reported that the man, 25, had a "bite and swelling on his hand," according to their report. Hull said that Cornelison killed the snake by stomping on it.
However, the two men were arrested for communicating a false alarm- police said the pair intended to get money from the grocery giant for the injury.
