the setting couldn’t have been more idyllic I really was euphoric thinking
idyllic I really was euphoric thinking
idyllic I really was euphoric thinking what a wonderful day this was it’s not
what a wonderful day this was it’s not
what a wonderful day this was it’s not ever expecting that I was going to
ever expecting that I was going to
ever expecting that I was going to encounter in Eastern diamondback
encounter in Eastern diamondback
encounter in Eastern diamondback rattlesnake well I wanted to photograph
rattlesnake well I wanted to photograph
rattlesnake well I wanted to photograph the light was right and I had my camera
the light was right and I had my camera
the light was right and I had my camera with me I took several photographs of
with me I took several photographs of
with me I took several photographs of the snake you know at that point that
the snake you know at that point that
the snake you know at that point that should have been sufficient and I’ll
should have been sufficient and I’ll
should have been sufficient and I’ll never know why I decided I had to pick
never know why I decided I had to pick
never know why I decided I had to pick the snake up nice Hey Bruce found a
the snake up nice Hey Bruce found a
the snake up nice Hey Bruce found a stick to pin the snake’s head what he
stick to pin the snake’s head what he
stick to pin the snake’s head what he didn’t realize was that sticks too short
he’s dealing with a snake that doesn’t
he’s dealing with a snake that doesn’t want to be examined and won’t hesitate
want to be examined and won’t hesitate
want to be examined and won’t hesitate to voice its displeasure if it senses an
to voice its displeasure if it senses an
to voice its displeasure if it senses an opening and it does
at first the pain was nothing more than
at first the pain was nothing more than a pinprick but the moment the venom
a pinprick but the moment the venom
a pinprick but the moment the venom enters Bruce’s bloodstream it begins
enters Bruce’s bloodstream it begins
enters Bruce’s bloodstream it begins attacking his tissues and cells setting
attacking his tissues and cells setting
attacking his tissues and cells setting off a chain reaction that could paralyze
off a chain reaction that could paralyze
off a chain reaction that could paralyze his entire system
his entire system
his entire system no one could clock his ticket Bruce
no one could clock his ticket Bruce
no one could clock his ticket Bruce begins a frantic race to get back to
begins a frantic race to get back to
begins a frantic race to get back to civilization he’ll have to manage the
civilization he’ll have to manage the
civilization he’ll have to manage the half-mile walk to the kayak and then
half-mile walk to the kayak and then
half-mile walk to the kayak and then almost a mile paddle to get to the
almost a mile paddle to get to the
almost a mile paddle to get to the mainland as I was going I was thinking
mainland as I was going I was thinking
mainland as I was going I was thinking to myself I’m gonna do it I’m gonna do
to myself I’m gonna do it I’m gonna do
to myself I’m gonna do it I’m gonna do it I’m gonna do it it’s been nearly 20
it I’m gonna do it it’s been nearly 20
it I’m gonna do it it’s been nearly 20 minutes since the bike and Bruce knows
minutes since the bike and Bruce knows
minutes since the bike and Bruce knows the Vipers venom can kill a man in as
the Vipers venom can kill a man in as
the Vipers venom can kill a man in as little as an hour horizon you’ve got to
little as an hour horizon you’ve got to
little as an hour horizon you’ve got to not panic don’t think about how long a
not panic don’t think about how long a
not panic don’t think about how long a paddle it will be to get to shore don’t
paddle it will be to get to shore don’t
paddle it will be to get to shore don’t think about you’re all alone don’t think
think about you’re all alone don’t think
think about you’re all alone don’t think about you could die when I got ashore I
about you could die when I got ashore I
about you could die when I got ashore I couldn’t get out of the kayak
couldn’t get out of the kayak
couldn’t get out of the kayak I was totally paralyzed from the lay
I was totally paralyzed from the lay
I was totally paralyzed from the lay down you’re trying to keep as low as you
down you’re trying to keep as low as you
down you’re trying to keep as low as you can and you inch yourself along the
can and you inch yourself along the
can and you inch yourself along the ground you know we are wiggling your
ground you know we are wiggling your
ground you know we are wiggling your body back and forth and pulling with
body back and forth and pulling with
body back and forth and pulling with your arms he’s lost control of his lower
your arms he’s lost control of his lower
your arms he’s lost control of his lower muscles
muscles
muscles and the venom is close to paralyzing one
and the venom is close to paralyzing one
and the venom is close to paralyzing one of his most critical organs his
of his most critical organs his
of his most critical organs his diaphragm which will stop his breathing
diaphragm which will stop his breathing
diaphragm which will stop his breathing his body is beginning its final
his body is beginning its final
his body is beginning its final breakdown he’s fighting for his life
his only hope is to make it to a
his only hope is to make it to a hospital with a supply of the right
hospital with a supply of the right
hospital with a supply of the right anti-venom nearly an hour after being
anti-venom nearly an hour after being
anti-venom nearly an hour after being bitten bruce lurches a mile down the
bitten bruce lurches a mile down the
bitten bruce lurches a mile down the road to find help
road to find help
road to find help and he does barely
and he does barely
and he does barely but by the time he arrives at a hospital
but by the time he arrives at a hospital
but by the time he arrives at a hospital he’ll need 26 units of antivenom to save
he’ll need 26 units of antivenom to save
he’ll need 26 units of antivenom to save his life
Bruce is extremely lucky to be alive the
Bruce is extremely lucky to be alive the bike easily could have killed him if he
bike easily could have killed him if he
bike easily could have killed him if he hadn’t stayed focused and calm despite
hadn’t stayed focused and calm despite
hadn’t stayed focused and calm despite his close call Bruce is still chasing
his close call Bruce is still chasing
his close call Bruce is still chasing down and studying these deadly creatures
down and studying these deadly creatures
down and studying these deadly creatures constantly putting himself in the danger
constantly putting himself in the danger
constantly putting himself in the danger zone when you put a transmitter in the
zone when you put a transmitter in the
zone when you put a transmitter in the mouth and and gently massage it in the
mouth and and gently massage it in the
mouth and and gently massage it in the stomach I got my fingers awfully close
stomach I got my fingers awfully close
stomach I got my fingers awfully close to the working end so I’ve learned to
to the working end so I’ve learned to
to the working end so I’ve learned to use a pair of forceps to manipulate this
use a pair of forceps to manipulate this
use a pair of forceps to manipulate this all I gently slide it in there little
all I gently slide it in there little
all I gently slide it in there little ways and she’s feeling that there is a
ways and she’s feeling that there is a
ways and she’s feeling that there is a bit of a danger even now for me working
bit of a danger even now for me working
bit of a danger even now for me working with these animals I mean I love them I
with these animals I mean I love them I
with these animals I mean I love them I empathize with them when I understand
empathize with them when I understand
empathize with them when I understand them and you know familiarity in this
them and you know familiarity in this
them and you know familiarity in this case drops my guard that’s not good
”
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