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Snake Handler Was Strangled By His 8ft Pet Python In ‘Show Of Affection’

Snake Handler Was Strangled By His 8ft Pet Python In ‘Show Of Affection’

The 31-year-old had the snake, called Tiny, since it was a baby

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A man was killed by his 8ft pet python after it escaped from its vivarium and crushed him to death in a 'show of affection'.

Dan Brandon died of asphyxiation in his bedroom after the snake, called Tiny, escaped. He is the first person in the UK to have been killed by a python, the Daily Mail reports.

His mother Babs said her son kept ten snakes and 12 tarantulas in his bedroom of the family home in Hampshire. She said that Dan, 31, had had the African rock python since it was small enough to fit in his hand.

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, coroner Andrew Bradley said: "We have nothing apart from Tiny so I have to accept she is instrumental in Dan's death. I do not believe in any way it was aggression from Tiny nor a confrontation - if anything it was a show of affection, a moment of peace."

Barbara and Derek Brandon.
PA

He said that the snake likely hid after the death 'because of the shock of him falling or because of his reaction'.

Before saying that the asphyxiation was a 'result of contact with Tiny', adding that he 'cannot see any other reason' for the death.

Dan's parents, along with his brother and sister, attended Basingstoke Coroners' Court to find out the verdict on the death, which took place on 25 August last year.

Giving evidence, his mother said that Dan viewed Tiny as 'his baby' and that he had never felt threatened or frightened of the snake, but was aware of how strong she was.

Pathologist Dr Adman al-Badri told the court that Dan was 'obviously fit and healthy' and had no disease whatsoever.

The court was told that there were no bite or puncture marks on the body and it was ruled that there was 'no aggression' from the snake.

Professor John Cooper, a reptile expert, said Dan was 'obviously experienced' when it came to looking after such animals. He told the court that had the snake bitten him, it would have 'been obvious'.

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Tearful Mrs Brandon told the inquest: "I heard a crash from upstairs and I thought he had knocked something over, I assumed it was his dumbbells.

"We shouted for dinner at 7.15pm and as he didn't answer my husband went upstairs. He then called me up as he thought he had fallen asleep, which does happen quite a bit.

"I went up and he was face down on the floor. He felt a little bit cold. There were 10 snakes and 12 tarantulas all away in the vivarium but I could not see Tiny.

"At that point I shook him to try and wake him up and called 999. Nobody saw Tiny until later; she had hidden under a box that Dan used to put all his snake stuff in and she had found a way under there and was coiled up."

Coroner Mr Bradley said: "I don't believe there was any aggression on Dan's part or on Tiny's part, the absence of bite marks is significant here.

"The most likely scenario is Tiny was engaged with Dan and I have no doubt she was coiled round him and there is a point where she either takes hold of him unexpectedly or tripped him up or some other mechanism.

"And she then makes off, maybe because of the shock of him falling over or because of his reaction."

Featured Image Credit: Facebook

Topics: Death, UK News, Snake, python