This Teen ‘Felt a Prick’ On a Fishing Trip Only to Discover a Rattlesnake Bite

A teenager in North Carolina found out the hard way what to do when you’re bitten by a rattlesnake. 

Zain Shah was bitten by a rattlesnake on the banks of Lost Cove Creek during a high-school fishing trip in the mountains of western North Carolina. The North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) announced in a press release that responders in Avery County successfully rescued the hiker, who was transferred to the hospital to receive medical treatment.

The group was about to head back for the day and 17-year-old Zain had just stepped over a log when he felt a prick on his heel. When he looked, he saw a timber rattlesnake sitting nearby. He is currently recovering.

“I’m beyond grateful for the incredible NCHART and Linville-Central Rescue teams, who got to them in the middle of nowhere and saved his life! He was air-lifted to and treated at Johnson City Medical Center, TN, and is now recovering at home,” his father, Imran Shah, said in a Facebook post.

If you are bitten by a snake, it’s important to call 911 and go to the closest emergency department to make sure that the snake isn’t venomous. “If someone in your party can take a photo while staying a good distance away, that could be helpful in identifying the snake,” Maggie Peikon, manager of communications at the American Hiking Society, told Travel + Leisure.

Try your best to stay calm and minimize activity if possible,” added Peikon.

It’s important to keep the bite below the level of the heart, and avoid drinking alcohol and pain relievers, which can thin your blood. Also, if you are bitten, you should not try to suck the venom out with your mouth or any kind of suction device, as it can lead to an infection.

“If you are bitten on the arm or hand, remove any constricting clothing, rings, bracelets, etc. in case your arm swells. Do not apply a constriction band or tourniquet with a belt or rope. Do not apply either hot or cold packs,” Peikon said. “If you have a pen or marker on you, circle the area where you were bitten and take note of the time of the bite—this will help monitor swelling and rate of changes.”