Cyclist bitten by eastern brown snake caught in her bike chain
A woman is recovering after she was bitten by an eastern brown snake that became tangled in her bike chain in northern NSW.
The woman, in her 60s, was riding on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail near Burringbar in the Tweed Shire yesterday when she ran over the two-metre snake.
NSW Ambulance said paramedics were called to the incident near Upper Burringbar Road about 1pm.
An Ambulance spokesperson said the woman was bitten on the thigh and taken to Tweed Valley Hospital in a stable condition.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-16/snake-caught-in-bike-chain/106920972
Luckily, the snake survived. Good pix at link.
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Last edited Thu Jul 16, 2026, 11:16 AM - Edit history (1)
came out REALLY early and just exploded in numbers. I get all the EMT alerts for emergencies in my area--and I do pay attention to the numbers of snakebites. WAAAAY up this year even on urban trails (people lean down to pick up after their dogs--who likewise are getting bitten) and voila.
Ours are prairie rattlers--undoubtedly not nearly as poisonous as your brown snakes, but they do kill both dogs and people not appropriately and quickly treated-- as well as causing serious necrosis to tissues that can result in amputations. So, venomous enough. 
When I see a nonvenomous bull snake in my yard I'm actually pleased because they will keep the venomous ones at bay.
bike probably messed it up bad and article said it had a prior eye injury so the snake handler euthanized it.
yee haw you guys have some serious snakes, we have rattlers where I am and they are scary enough. we also have highly venomous coral snakes but they stay out of the way, rattlers will come right in the house. 
I skimmed, bad me. I have no issues with the poor buggers, they are reviled enough. 
Most are no danger if you keep your distance. Don't like the thought of ratllers coming for a visit. 