That is a hell-of-a-story, I can feel for this kid. I have never been bit, but have experienced many close calls. I have killed snakes that went well over five feet on my place, and always carry a model 60 .357 loaded with my special snake loads every time I go out.
This area is know for large numbers of snakes as evidenced by the number caught and killed each year at the Swetwater Rattlesnake Round Up. (Sweetwater TX) This event usually takes palace in March of each year, and is worth the trip (at least one time) if you have never been there.
A friend was bit on the hand in the fleshy part between the thumb and pointing (nose picking) finger several years ago. The first thing he did was open another beer, then submerged his hand in the icy water in the cooler and drove himself to the hospital. Both things you should never do to a bite. DON'T drink any kind of alcohol beverage, and NEVER put ice on a snake bite. His recovery was much faster than the young man here, but still required extensive physical therapy. When he went into the hospital they operated on him immediately, it was less than a hour after the bite.
An acquaintance that worked for a construction company doing work at old Fort Chadborn (South of Abilene) went out one Sunday afternoon to move a D-8 out of a creek bed following a sever weather threat. He took his four year old son with him, and when he arrived at the place the Cat was located he took his son out and sat him on the tracks of the Cat, he crawled up, and was attempting to start a pony engine when he was bit on the end of the thumb. The snakes teeth were stuck and he could not get the snake off, He grabbed the snake with his other hand and bit the head off, picked his son up and put him back in the truck and drove about 35 miles back to Abilene to the hospital, he almost lost his arm.
You hear all kinds of stories, but one thing for sure, I hope I am never in the position to relate a personal snake bite tale to you!
