A German tourist has died in Hurghada after a cobra bit him when a snake charmer reportedly encouraged the lethal reptile to slither up his trouser leg during a hotel show
A dream getaway turned into a living nightmare after a holidaymaker died following a bite from a venomous cobra during a hotel snake-charming show. The 57-year-old German tourist was reportedly watching the performance in the popular Egyptian sun-trap of Hurghada when the tragedy unfolded.
The incident is claimed to have happened after the performer encouraged the lethal reptile to slither up the man’s trouser leg. The man was holidaying with two relatives at the Red Sea resort in early April when the entertainment took a dark turn.
According to Bavarian police, the spectacle began with two snakes being draped around the necks of various audience members.
The situation escalated when the snake charmer allowed one of the cobras to crawl inside the man’s clothing, where it lashed out and sank its fangs into his leg.
The man showed immediate symptoms of severe poisoning and medics performed resuscitation on-site before he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite the efforts of doctors, the man passed away shortly after arriving.
While prosecutors have launched an investigation and are awaiting toxicology results, there appears to be a disconnect between local and international reports.
When contacted by Agence France-Presse, Egyptian authorities said they “were not aware of the incident.”
Experts have long warned that the “hypnosis” seen in these shows is a myth. Rather than dancing to music, snakes sway defensively because they perceive the movement of the charmer’s instrument as a direct threat.
The holiday horror follows another recent tragedy involving a father who was gored to death during a Spanish festival.
Santiago Barrero San Roman, 33, lost his life during the San Marcos festivities in Andalusia.
The local bull breeder was caught up in a rampaging bull run. Distressing footage captured the moment Roman attempted to take cover behind a barrel, only to be launched into the air by the beast’s horns.
Despite the desperate attempts of bystanders to distract the animal and pull it away with ropes, the injuries proved fatal.
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