There was tension after a deadly snake forced a game to stop during a tennis tournament in Australia on Saturday, December 30, 2023.
The game was a Brisbane International qualifying match between former US Open champion Dominic Thiem and 20-year-old Australian James McCabe.
McCabe had just wrapped up the first set 6-2 against the 2020 US Open champion when the reptile was spotted among electrical wires on the side of the court in front of spectators.
Security personnel quickly arrived, but the umpire had to stop play as the snake slithered onto the court.
The beast was later identified as a 50cm Eastern Brown Snake—one of Australia’s most deadly reptiles—and was soon safely removed, allowing play to resume.
The venom of an Eastern Brown Snake contains a deadly cocktail of poisons, making it the second most dangerous snake in the world.
The most powerful is a neurotoxin, which paralyses the nerves of the heart, lungs and diaphragm, suffocating the victim.
If untreated, victims can die within 30 minutes of cardiac arrest.
Fatal snake bites have become relatively rare in Australia since the introduction of a national anti-venom program, with two people dying per year on average.
Toxicology expert Dr Brian Fry said in 2017: “It’s arguably the quickest killing venom in the world. No other snake in the world has killed people so quickly, so regularly.”
Meanwhile, following the match’s resumption, Thiem had to save three match points before leveling the contest by winning the second set tie-break.
The 30-year-old went on to clinch the deciding set for a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 win.
The Austrian is currently ranked No. 98, having struggled upon his return from a brutal wrist injury.
He will face either Italian Giulio Zeppieri or another Australian, Omar Jasika, in the final qualifying round on Sunday.
The popular Brisbane International event has returned to the tennis calendar this year in its previous format.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES ON PRUDENCE JOURNAL
Jumia stops food delivery services in Nigeria and other African markets over profitability concerns
Tems opens up on pregnancy rumours with US rapper Future, says she got death threats
US House of Reps launches Republican impeachment inquiry against Biden
Afrobeat superstar Wizkid donates N100 million to children for Christmas
South African singer Zahara dies of liver complication at 36
Nigeria’s central bank to freeze accounts without BVN or NIN
Elon Musk blasts advertisers who pulled spending from X
70-years-old woman delivers twins after 40 years of barrenness
Israel Fails to Provide Evidence of Hamas Command Center in Al-Shifa Hospital Raid