Man bit by rattlesnake revived with 34 doses of antivenom after terrifying encounter
One man's trail run quickly turned into a fight for survival after a rattlesnake bite left doctors scrambling to give him an eye-watering 34 doses of antivenom.
College baseball player Jake Entrup had been running his usual route along a California trail with his dog while his mum followed behind, when he suddenly found himself in front of a venomous reptile.
The 22-year-old didn't see the rattlesnake until it was too late, with the creature striking before he had a chance to react.
Advert
Within minutes, the venom started taking a toll on his body.
Speaking to local news outlet KTLA, Entrup recalled: "Within the first two minutes, I put my hand in front of my face and I could not see it."
Thankfully, after hearing his scream, a nurse who just so happened to be hiking nearby rushed over to help, keeping him calm in an effort to slow venom's spread.
"She calmed me down," he told CBS News. "She was a really big part of it because, at times, I couldn't see my hand.
Emergency crews airlifted Entrup to Pomono Valley Hospital Medical Center where doctors gave him 20 doses of antivenom.
But when it became clear he needed further treatment, he was transferred to Los Angeles General Medical Center, where medics administered another 14 doses, bringing his total to a staggering 34 doses.
His mum Staci Entrup, told CBS how she watched helplessly as the venom affected her son's nervous system.
"When you sit there and you watch your son, who is already in pain," she said. "The whole time you're talking, his eyes are twitching, his body is twitching."
Thankfully, after spending 3 days in intensive care, Entrup is back on his feet with the help of crutches, though it could be a some time before he's back on the pitcher's mound.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help support the student while he recovers.
According to the fundraiser, Entrup had been working double shifts to help pay for graduate school, but is now unable to work while he works on recovery.
At the time of writing, his fundraiser has gathered just over $4,500.
In the meantime, Entrup and his mum are keen to spread the word and warn other hikers and trail runners to stay alert on local trails.
"I would be very cautious of your surroundings," he told KTLA. "In the moment, it can seem scary, but you want to keep as calm as possible."
Ali Condon