Snake Bites Man Three Times, Kills Him After He Wraps Reptile Around Neck

A 28-year-old man in India died Wednesday after being bitten by a snake while he was playing with the reptile by wrapping it around his neck.

The incident took place in the state of Maharashtra. The police said the victim, identified as Mohammad Shaikh, caught hold of the snake in the city of Thane. Shaikh then wrapped the snake around his neck, and carried it to a marketplace, while playing with it. This was when the reptile bit Shaikh three times, a police official said, NDTV reported, citing Press Trust of India.

According to local media reports, the victim's friends were recording the act on their mobile phones, but did not try to stop him from playing with the reptile. They later posted the clip on social media.

Shaikh did not realize he was bitten at the time. However, he later complained of uneasiness, following which his friends rushed him to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, UNI India reported.

Local police filed a case of accidental death and sent his body for an autopsy to a government hospital in Thane, the official said. Authorities did not reveal the type of snake that bit Shaikh. It also remains unclear if the snake was later caught by the police, or it escaped from the scene. Other details about the video posted on social media has not been made public.

Many in India are fascinated by snakes, with several people trying out tricks with the reptiles. Often, such instances have turned fatal for the humans.

Earlier this month, an elderly man in India recorded a clip showing him inserting a live snake into his nose and then taking it out of his mouth. The video, which was shared by Indian actor Vidyut Jammwal on his Instagram handle, showed the man sitting while a snake in his hands. He then closed his eyes and slowly began inserting the reptile into his nose. Seconds later, he opened his eyes and pulled the snake out of the mouth.