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Posted by W von Papineäu on April 11, 2003 at 12:17:16:
THE SUN (London, UK) 11 April 03 Snake gets hiss of life (John Coles)
Vet’s nurse Claire Farina saved a snake by giving it the kiss of life.
Courageous Claire, 23, sprang into action when 5ft Nipper stopped breathing during a complicated op.
She said: “It was a bit scary getting so close to Nipper’s big teeth but I just thought it was worth a try. I blew gently into its mouth until it started breathing again.”
Californian king snake Nipper was rushed to the vet’s after eggs got stuck while it was giving birth.
Owner Ryan Mills, 13, said: “Claire was really brave to go near those big teeth — Nipper’s bitten me a couple of times and it really hurts.
She saved Nipper’s life and I’m so grateful.” Four-year-old Nipper, who is not poisonous, is now recovering from the successful op at home in Lydney, Gloucs.
Claire said: “We knew the operation would be very dangerous for Nipper but we had to have a go for Ryan’s sake — without it she would have died.
“When Nipper stopped breathing it was a horrible moment and mouth-to-mouth was the only thing I could think of. It was all worth it to see Ryan’s face when we handed the snake back to him.
“My boyfriend just couldn’t stop laughing when I told him I had been snogging a snake.”
Vet Mark Hinds said: “We don’t get a snake on the operating table every day of the week.
“But we gave it a go because we like to think we are prepared to tackle any emergency. Fortunately it worked out well and the snake has made a full recovery.”
