Mystery surrounds snake handler's death
May 02, 2005

A PROFESSIONAL snake handler has been found dead at his South Australian home but police refuse to confirm reports he might have been crushed to death by his pet python.
The body of Erik Attmarsson, 28, was found at his home in Tanunda, in the Barossa Valley, north of Adelaide, yesterday.

The Advertiser reported that marks on the Swede's face were consistent with him being crushed to death by a snake. However, a police spokesman said this morning: "The man kept a snake in the house but at this time there is no evidence to show that the snake was involved in the man's death."

Director of the Australian Reptile Park John Wiegel had not heard of anyone in Australia being crushed to death by a snake but said it did happen overseas where the pythons were much bigger.

"There have been a number of incidences overseas where a snake has got confused and the person is asphyxiated and has died, but we've never come close to that in Australia," he said.

"This species does get pretty confused sometimes."

Police also rejected reports that Mr Attmarsson's 5m Queensland native scrub python was missing from its enclosure.

The python had been located inside the house and handlers from National Parks and Wildlife had put the serpent back in its enclosure, a police spokesman said.

Mr Attmarrsson is not believed to have had any pre-existing medical conditions, but it is understood he had consumed a large amount of alcohol before his death.

Police last night would not comment on if this may have contributed to his death.

Last year, Mr Attmarsson beat about 150 applicants for the position of exotic snake curator at a Tanunda-based venom supplies business.

The business is involved in milking hundreds of venomous snakes for the production of anti-venin.

Police were called to the Mattiske Rd property about 1.15pm yesterday. Mr Attmarrsson is believed to have died sometime between Friday night and yesterday.

Mr Attmarrsson, when he began work with Venom Supplies, said he had kept non-venomous snakes since he was 10.

"I had to nag my parents for a while to get a snake," said.

"I'm happy they let me get one because they are fascinating animals to watch." A post-mortem examination will be conducted today.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15148838-1246,00.html