Be careful where you ride, and be careful where you fall. Mountain biker Manuel Altamirano recently learned this the hard way, after crashing into a coiled rattlesnake on a trail near San Diego, California. Thankfully, neither snake nor human was hurt.
According to NBC7 San Diego, Altamirano was riding at the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve when he saw a rattlesnake coiled up in strike position on the trail. He told the local news station that he tried to stop as soon as he saw it, but his bike skid and hit the snake.
Meanwhile, Altamirano bailed off the back of the bike. He says he’s had rattlesnakes strike at him from that curled-up position before, so he wasn’t taking any chances.
After realizing neither he nor the snake was hurt, Altamirano started filming the aftermath of the crash. It seems insane that the snake didn’t even move away as a mountain bike came skidding toward it.
Watch Altamirano’s footage of the toughest rattlesnake in San Diego here:
Tips to Survive a Rattlesnake Bite
Rattlesnakes are venomous, and their bites can be deadly without treatment. If bitten, seek medical help immediately.
As you wait for help, follow this advice from Healthline.com:
- Don’t raise the area above the level of the heart. If you do this, your blood containing rattlesnake venom will reach your heart more quickly.
- Stay as still as possible, as movement will increase your blood flow and the venom will circulate faster.
- Remove any tight clothing or jewelry before you start to swell.
- Don’t try to suck the venom from the wound, as you then introduce the venom to your mouth as well as introduce the bacteria from your mouth to the wound.
- Don’t use a tourniquet or apply ice or water.
Find Healthline’s full list of tips here.
Have you ever encountered a “danger noodle” on a trail?