A student who plays football at Maumelle High School, in Arkansas, United States, found a venomous snake measuring approximately 60 centimeters long hidden inside his helmet during a training session last week.
Young man spends almost 1 hour with a poisonous snake hidden inside his helmet
A student who plays football at Maumelle High School, in Arkansas, United States, found a venomous snake measuring approximately 60 centimeters long hidden inside his helmet during a training session last week. The young man had already...
Suspicious, he took the helmet to an assistant coach to have it checked. When examining the equipment, the team found a snake hidden behind the padded part of the helmet, according to information from CBS News.
- Snake was hidden inside the helmet Police and animal control agents were called to the school to remove the reptile.
- The snake, however, remained trapped inside the equipment and resisted the first attempts to remove it.
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The young man had already used the equipment for almost an hour when he noticed a strange movement after warming up. Suspicious, he took the helmet to an assistant coach to have it checked.
When examining the equipment, the team found a snake hidden behind the padded part of the helmet, according to information from CBS News.
Snake was hidden inside the helmet
Police and animal control agents were called to the school to remove the reptile. The snake, however, remained trapped inside the equipment and resisted the first attempts to remove it.
Agents had to use water to get her out. They then managed to hold her with tweezers, put her in a bag and transport her to a wooded area far from the school, where she was released.
The animal was identified as a water moccasin, of the species Agkistrodon piscivorus. According to the animal control service, it is the second most venomous snake species found in the state of Arkansas.
Player spent almost an hour with a snake in his equipment
Chris Davis, head of animal protection services, told CBS News that the student was lucky not to have been bitten, as he remained wearing his helmet for much of the training session.
“It was surreal,” Davis said. "You had to be there and take photos to believe it was real."
After removing the snake, the player started using another helmet and was able to continue training.
School reinforces alert after finding snake
The episode led the team's head coach to reinforce guidance to athletes: everyone should check the inside of equipment before putting it on, especially when helmets, gloves or other objects are stored or exposed for some time.
Maumelle's animal control service also posted an alert on social media following the case. According to the agency, snakes and other animals can look for dark, closed places to hide, including helmets, shoes, bags and boxes left outdoors or unused.
"Before putting on your helmet, shoes, gloves or any outdoor gear, always do a quick check first. It only takes a few seconds and can prevent a very scary encounter, or worse," the post says.
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