Steve Irwin of South Africa spoke of a near-death experience he had with a snake just two years before he died from the deadly bite of the green mamba.
Graham ‘Dingo’ Dinkleman died last Saturday following complications from cobra venom after he revealed two years ago that he was severely allergic to the venom.
Speaking to You magazine in January 2022, Dingo recalled filming a documentary in the Amazon rainforest of South America in 2019 before learning of his fatal allergy.
On February 28, the animal lover had returned to his base camp in the middle of the jungle when he noticed a small brown snake with orange eyes.
Thinking it was just a small, harmless reptile, Dingo went to take a photo of it before he and the crew realized it was a venomous leopard water snake.
Graham ‘Dingo’ Dinkleman died last Saturday following complications from cobra venom after he revealed two years ago that he was severely allergic to the venom. Pictured: Dingo with Thor, his pet Malaysian King Cobra snake.
The wildlife enthusiast nearly died in 2019 after being bitten by a snake while filming a documentary in the Amazon rainforest.
Dingo knew for 15 years that he was allergic to the venom found in cobras and mambas.
He and his colleague pulled the snake out of the water before it bit their friend five or six times.
‘He had no reaction. There is no swelling, no pain, nothing,” Dingo recalled.
But when he tried to manipulate the snake so he could bite it, the reptile also sank its fangs into him.
Dingo remembered that the sting didn’t hurt too much at first, so he left it while he continued taking pictures.
He then began to feel dizzy and lightheaded, revealing to the magazine: “I knew immediately that I was going into anaphylactic shock.
“I know I’m very allergic to elapid venom, which is found in cobras and mambas.”
Dingo said he had been allergic to this type of venom for 15 years, but at the time he didn’t know it could be found in a leopard water snake.
A moment later he fell to the ground and couldn’t catch his breath.
“I was dying in the middle of the jungle,” he told you.
Dingo’s life was saved that day thanks to the quick action of the film crew and the local doctor.
“I would have been done in a minute and a half or two minutes if they hadn’t injected enormous amounts of adrenaline into my veins,” he said.
He recalled thinking only of his family in what he believed were his final moments, and said he wanted to be able to see his children get married.
Dingo was bitten by a green mamba about a month ago and went into anaphylactic shock after having an allergic reaction to the venom (pictured).
Dingo’s YouTube channel is full of videos of him handling dangerous reptiles, such as cobras, black mambas, vipers, pythons and crocodiles.
The father-of-three, from Pietermaritzburg, was bitten by the snake about a month ago and went into anaphylactic shock after having an allergic reaction to the venom.
Those thoughts pushed him to fight the poison and cling to life, while vowing to take advantage of the second chance he had been given.
Tragically, the father-of-three, from Pietermaritzburg, was bitten by a green mamba about a month ago and went into anaphylactic shock after having an allergic reaction to the venom.
His wife Kirsty said he went into an induced coma while being treated in a hospital intensive care unit.
While under heavy sedatives his body was expected to recover, but Kirsty later confirmed the tragic news of his death.
Tributes have been pouring in for Dingo, with his wife Kirsty saying: ‘Dingo fought incredibly hard during this very difficult period.
‘We know you were fighting to be here with us and we are very grateful for that.
“Sadly, despite his strength and resilience, my beloved husband passed away peacefully today, surrounded by his family.”
Kirsty thanked well-wishers for their support and said: “Today (Saturday) marks one month since the incident and we have experienced so much comfort and love thanks to your messages and prayers from around the world.”
Dingo became popular for his daring rescues of dangerous reptiles and amassed more than 100,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 600,000 fans on Instagram.