A 21-year-old man in Uttar Pradesh, India, survived a terrifying venomous snakebite after his brother reportedly slapped him around 150 times to keep him conscious while doctors battled to save his life.
The victim, identified as Arun, was bitten while lifting a sack of grass at a farm in Jyoti Nagar, Hardoi, on Saturday.
According to India TV, Arun had arrived at the farm at around 2pm to bring water to his elder brother, Akash, who runs a dairy business. As he picked up the sack, a snake hiding inside suddenly struck, leaving him screaming in pain.
Akash immediately rushed his younger brother towards the roadside while contacting emergency services and police for help. As Arun’s condition deteriorated, a medical shop owner, Shivam Sharma, happened to pass by and helped transport the brothers on a motorcycle to a nearby health centre.
At the emergency department, Emergency Medical Officer Dr Sher Singh and his five-member team immediately began treating Arun. Medical staff reportedly instructed his family to keep him awake and responsive as he became increasingly weak.
When Arun began appearing drowsy and close to losing consciousness, Akash repeatedly slapped his brother’s cheeks. The desperate attempt reportedly continued for about an hour, with Akash slapping him more than 150 times to keep him responsive.
Meanwhile, doctors administered antivenom after determining that the snake’s venom was having a serious effect on Arun’s body. Dr Singh said the patient received 15 doses of antivenom within around two hours because of the severity of the poisoning.
The intensive treatment eventually paid off, with Arun’s condition gradually improving and doctors managing to save his life.
The unusual incident has since attracted attention from local media, particularly over Akash’s desperate efforts to prevent his brother from losing consciousness while medical staff worked to counter the venom.
However, repeatedly slapping a snakebite victim should not be considered a standard first-aid treatment. Anyone bitten by a venomous snake should seek emergency medical attention immediately and follow instructions from trained healthcare professionals.
The case also highlights how quickly a venomous snakebite can become life-threatening, making rapid medical assessment and appropriate antivenom treatment crucial.
