“For whatever reason, the snake grabbed the handler by his arm, came from out of his quarters and wrapped around his entire body and his entire neck”. “The shop is covered in blood where it was squirting everywhere”.
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Wilkins also owns a second Captive Born Reptiles store on Morse Road in Columbus.
As the massive python proceeded to coil itself from Wilkins’ torso to his head, the woman frantically dialed 911.
Lt. Rapberger said he grabbed the snake’s head and started to pull while Sgt. Arnberg uncoiled the snake from the unresponsive man’s body.
“It was a horrific event”, Collins said. He was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment. His current condition is unknown.
Officer Rapberger has had experience with snakes before and says if they would’ve shot the python, it would’ve constricted even tighter and killed Wilkins.
Despite struggling with the python, the officers eventually freed Wilkins, allowing him to breathe again. Local police were dispatched to a Newport, Ohio store on Monday after receiving a 911 call from a store employee who said the snake had curled around her boss’ arm during feeding time. “If I would have been by myself, I would have thought of shooting it”, the chief said.
“How do you prepare for this, and seeing this man and this snake?” “It’s like something out of a book”.
The shop in Newport specializes in breeding snakes and Collins said that this particular python was more aggresive than most.
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WCPO will update this story as more information becomes available.
