Vava Suresh, 48, a household name in Kerala who rescued more than 50,000 snakes and other animals, was fighting for his life at Kottayam Hospital after being bitten by a cobra on Monday.
He rushed to rescue Curry’s Cobra from another hospital, where he was recuperating after an accident last week, after a frantic phone call.
In 2020, he struggled for days on a ventilator after being bitten by a venomous snake.
Residents of Kottayam Kurichi say Suresh was bitten while rescuing the 10-foot cobra. “We were in tears… Despite being bitten, he managed to put the snake safely in the sack. After a few minutes he lost consciousness,” one resident said.
Suresh told HT earlier in an interview that he has suffered more than 250 snakebites and has become a household name over the past two decades for his swift response to calls to save snakes and release them into the wild name. He is known for his knowledge of snakes. The Kerala Forest Department offered him a job, but he refused, saying he couldn’t dedicate his life to his first love. He delivered his expert opinion on a case in which a husband was convicted of biting his wife by a snake while she slept in Kolam.
In 2013, Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, met Suresh during a visit to Kerala, where he rescued more than 175 king cobras. “Even an elephant can die within an hour of being bitten by a king cobra. How did you save so many king cobras? You are a living miracle and my love to your reptile friend Salute,” Charles told Suresh.
Doctors had warned Suresh earlier that snake antivenom had little effect on him because he had been bitten so many times. In 2005, he was bitten by a cobra and lost his right index finger. Suresh also lost mobility in his right wrist after another bite. Snake antivenom and toxin damaged his liver and skin. A few years ago, an expat gifted Suresh a car to carry out his mission.
The state government has pledged to provide Suresh with the best possible treatment. “He is on a ventilator and doctors say he is not out of danger. We are sure that he will bounce back as before. The government will provide the best possible treatment,” State Minister V N Vasavan said after visiting Suresh.
Health Minister Vena George said a special team of doctors would be set up to monitor his health.
Complete News SOurce : Hindustan Times
