Cyclist's Attempt To Rescue Snake From Being Run Over Ends With Venomous Bite
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New York cyclist's good deed goes wrong after he's bitten by a venomous copperhead snake while trying to move it off a road.
News18
A New York-based cyclist was bitten by a venomous snake after he tried to save it from being run over by traffic, leading to a hospital visit and a badly swollen finger.
Dan Geiger, a Manhattan-based writer, was cycling along the Palisades Cliffs in New Jersey when he spotted what looked like a lethargic copperhead snake lying across the road. Fearing it would be crushed by a passing vehicle, he attempted to gently nudge it off the path.
But the rescue attempt backfired.
'I just sort of nudged again, and I was just too close," Geiger told local broadcaster Fox5, describing how the snake struck him on the finger with 'precision and speed."
Officials at the Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was treated, said Geiger's finger turned deep purple and swelled alarmingly. Two passersby helped him call emergency services and he was rushed to hospital, where doctors administered antivenom to stop the venom from spreading further.
Doctors say while antivenom halts the worsening of symptoms, it does not reverse damage already caused. 'It just stops things from getting worse," said Dr Daria Falkowitz, a medical toxicologist at the hospital, while speaking to the broadcaster.
'It just stops things from getting worse, and so whatever tissue damage has already occurred prior to receiving it, is there. Though initially it doesn't look bad, the damage has been done, so we expect some progression over a day or two," she further added.
Geiger spent two nights under observation and has since been discharged, though doctors have advised that he won't be able to use his hand for at least a week.
Copperhead snakes are venomous but rarely fatal. They are found in parts of North America, including New Jersey. Experts say such snakes generally avoid human contact, and incidents like this are uncommon.
Copperhead snakes, native to parts of the eastern and central US, typically grow between 2 and 3 feet in length. Known for their distinctive copper-colored heads and hourglass-shaped patterns on their bodies, they are among the most commonly encountered venomous snakes in the region.
While their bites are rarely fatal, they can cause significant tissue damage and require prompt medical attention. According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States sees about 7,000 to 8,000 venomous snake bites annually, with an average of five fatalities each year
First Published:
May 24, 2025, 00:00 IST
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