South Carolina Man Hospitalized After Bite From World’s Most Venomous Snake Kept as Pet
South Carolina, USA- A shocking incident occurred in a quiet neighbourhood when a local citizen was found in a serious condition after being bitten by the world’s most venomous snake. The snake, an inland taipan, had been kept as a pet by the victim, and was part of an extensive collection of venomous snakes at his home.
Bite from the Deadly Taipan
The victim has since been identified as Jeffrey Leibowitz. Known for sharing videos of his exotic venomous snakes on social media platforms, he was handling the taipan when he was bitten. Earlier in the day, he had posted a video where he claimed to have control over the deadly creature. “I can control his turn. There’s no need to be so scared of him,” Leibowitz had expressed confidently in the video.
Emergency Measures Launched
Following the incident, a cross-country mission was launched to fly in crucial antivenom from Florida to counter the potent venom of the inland taipan. Experts say that this snake’s venom is so deadly that a single bite could potentially kill up to 100 people. Leibowitz’s condition was critical, and he was reported to be on a respirator, as the venom likely paralyzed his diaphragm.
A House Full of Venomous Snakes
A subsequent search on Leibowitz’s property uncovered an astonishing collection of 14 venomous snakes that included a green mamba, two gaboon vipers, a fer-de-lace, a death adder, an eastern diamondback rattlesnake, two adult rattlesnakes of unknown species, two black forest cobras, two neotropical rattlesnakes, a small rattlesnake (species unknown) and the taipan.
Health and Environmental Concerns
Leibowitz’s house was also the home to a pet cat, raising huge concerns about the animal’s safety. Moreover, the zoos and reptile facilities nearby declined to accept the venomous snakes due to undetermined health and environmental risks associated with their housing and potential illnesses. A family member of Leibowitz voluntarily signed a surrender form to hand over the snakes to local law enforcement who are expected to euthanize the animals for safety concerns.
Words of Warning
This incident serves as a serious reminder of the danger posed by venomous creatures, even in domestic settings. As Professor Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland Australia commented, “Taipan envenomations are incredibly dangerous… they have evolved strategies to absolutely nuke their very dangerous prey.” Long-lasting or permanent damage to various organs may be possible even with immediate treatment and use of antivenom.
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
