M'sian man bitten by venomous snake in friend's shoe rack, thought it was a cat scratch

A man in Malaysia was bitten by a venomous snake while reaching into a shoe rack at a friend's house on May 27, according to Sin Chew Daily.

Bit while grabbing a grinder

Sin Chew Daily reported that the incident happened at around 10:30pm at a residence in Kampung Kuala, Renal.

The man had gone to his friend's place to retrieve something from the shoe rack. As he reached in, he felt a sudden bite and noticed a small wound.

Because there was no obvious bleeding or serious injury, he assumed a cat had scratched him and thought nothing of it.

He then rode his motorcycle home.

Right eye couldn't open, trouble swallowing

On the ride home, his right eye began drooping, and he had difficulty swallowing. Oriental Daily reported that by the time he got back, he told his wife he could no longer take the pain.

She brought him to a nearby private clinic, but they couldn't help. A. volunteer rescue team stepped in and transported him to a government hospital, where he is now stable but still under observation.

Check before you reach in

According to Oriental Daily, the chairman of the team advised the public to tap the area with a stick or check carefully before reaching into shoe racks or storage cabinets, as snakes tend to hide in cool, shaded spots during hot weather.

He also warned that snake bites should never be dismissed as minor, and urged anyone who has been bitten to seek medical attention immediately before the venom has a chance to spread.