One of my great concerns with showing encounters with dangerous snakes in my films, is the fact that people like me can make snake handling seem an easy task and lessen the apparent danger of encounters with lethal snakes. Impressionable kids and teenagers may want to imitate what they see on TV and try and handle snakes in the wild. 

Untrained and unskilled people trying to handle snakes could easily lose their lives. Wildlife presenters that are " hands on" like myself have a responsibility to not only entertain but also to educate people about the very real dangers of handling and interacting with snakes, snake handling is a very a specialised skill, but the risks are very high. Many snake handlers and so called snake experts have died from snake bites around the world.

Unskilled people face a raft of problems handling snakes in the wild. Firstly the problem of not being able to properly identify the snake species they encounter. Snakes can vary hugely in coloration and markings and are often extremely hard to identify, especially when the snake is not fully visible in long grass or dense bush. Another problem is the incredible speed in which a snake can strike. Most people's reflexes are absolutely no match for a snake that has had millions of years to hone their ability to deliver a lethal dose of venom to warm blooded mammals.

After careful thought about how best to educate people about snakes in my films and lower the risk of people wanting to imitate wildlife handlers, I decided to produce a scene where I would face an attacking snake and show just how dangerous and aggressive snakes can be.

To set up such a scene, we needed open ground that would allow my crew to film the action and be as safe as possible and we also needed one of the most aggressive snakes on the planet. We chose a deadly Australian eastern brown that was crossing an area of open sandstone on his way to low dense scrub. Eastern browns are not hard to find in the Australian bush.

 The snake was in no way cornered, but I knew the species and knew if I blocked its intended path it would attack. Armed only with my Akubra hat I approached the snake and deliberately blocked its way, unlike most snake species, the eastern brown opened its jaws wide and began coming after me, each time it was within striking distance, it reared up and began a series of lightning fast strikes. Each strike I deflected with my old felt hat. 

Again and again the snake continually came after me, forcing me to walk backwards and deal with another series of strikes. My cameraman recorded some 20 or more strikes as the snake became more and more determined to take my life. Even though I was well prepared for the scene, when working with animals that are so well equipped to kill, things can go horribly wrong. The snake was making me step backwards over uneven rocky terrain, had I fallen the snake could have easily made contact with those lethal fangs and probably numerous strikes would have taken place. Pressure bandages will slow the circulation of venom to vital organs, but a pressure bandage will not work to the groin or torso, one slip or miss step could easily spell the end to my long career as a wildlife man.