Teen Felt a Prick, Then Spotted Rattlesnake. When He Rolled Down His Sock, He Saw 'Two Red Dots and Blood'
A 17-year-old boy said he was bitten by a rattlesnake during a fishing trip in the North Carolina wilderness ahead of his high school graduation
Zain Shah said he was "about to turn back" when he "felt a prick" near his foot, then spotted a rattlesnake sitting near him
The teen received 12 vials of antivenom at a hospital and is now recovering at homeA teenager is recovering after he was bitten by a rattlesnake in the North Carolina wilderness.
Emergency crews responded to an area of Avery County on Monday, June 2, to assist 'with the rescue of a hiker that had sustained a snake bite,' according to a news release from North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM).
Zain Shah, 17, told McClatchy News that he was bitten around 5 p.m. local time on the banks of Lost Cove Creek while fishing with a friend.
Responding to NCEM's Facebook post, the teen's father, Imran Shah, said the pair were on 'a fun end-of-high-school fishing trip' in the western North Carolina mountains when his son was bitten by a timber rattlesnake 'deep in the woods.'
According to Zain, they 'were about to turn back' for the day when he 'felt a prick' near his foot as he 'stepped over' a log, according to McClatchy News. Then, he spotted a rattlesnake sitting near him.
At first, the teen said he thought, 'No way that just happened" — but when he rolled down his sock, he saw 'two red dots and blood coming out' of the wound.
'I knew it was potentially deadly,' Zain explained. Luckily, his friend's had phone service and they called 911 while attempting to return to the vehicle they arrived in.
About two hours later, a Black Hawk helicopter reached Zain and hoisted him to safety, according to McClatchy News.
NCEM said multiple agencies responded to the call for help, including the National Guard, which provided the Black Hawk helicopter, as well as North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team (NCHART) and the Charlotte Fire Department.
Zain was then airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee, and received 12 vials of antivenom to treat the bite, according to McClatchy News.
The teen, who is set to graduate from Chapel Hill High School on June 14, thanked the crews who rescued him from his precarious position.
'All of them saved my life,' he said. 'I wouldn't be here without the help of so many people.'
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On Facebook, the teen's father also said he is 'beyond grateful' for the 'incredible' crews who saved Zain, who 'is now recovering at home.'
He added, "We are forever in your debt."
Read the original article on People
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High school student airlifted to safety after rattlesnake bite on remote fishing trip
A high school student was airlifted to the hospital after being bitten by a rattlesnake while on a remote fishing trip in North Carolina. Zain Shah, 17, was hiking in the Pisgah National Forest when he was bitten by the snake about two miles from the nearest road. A North Carolina National Guard Blackhawk was dispatched to the area along with a rescue team. The rattlesnake bit him around 5 p.m. on June 5 while he was walking along Lost Cove Creek. He was later airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee, according to The News & Observer. The teenager was hiking with his friend Kevin Foley, 18. The two had planned to fish until it got dark and then camp for the evening. 'At the point where we were about to turn back, I stepped over a log and as my foot landed, I felt a prick,' he told the newspaper. 'It was painless. I looked down and see a rattlesnake sitting there. I think: 'No way that just happened.' But I rolled down my sock and see two red dots and blood coming out. I knew it was potentially deadly.' Zain Shah did not have cell service but used his friend's phone to dial 911. A dispatcher told him it would be too dangerous for him to try to walk back to his vehicle. It's believed the teen, who took a photo of the reptile, was bitten by a timber rattlesnake. The reptile can reach up to seven feet and has venom that is 'potent enough to kill a human,' according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. After the reptile bit him, Zain Shah said his body began to tingle and he developed pins and needles. At one point, he thought he was going into shock. It took two hours for rescuers to reach him. He told the outlet he did not have a strong reaction to the bite, leading medical professionals to believe it may have been a dry bite, which means either little or no venom was released. Still, bloodwork later confirmed he was still at risk of uncontrolled bleeding. Medical professionals administered 12 vials of antivenom over three days in the hospital, he told the outlet. Zain Shah, who is due to graduate from high school later this month, is grateful to the first responders and his friend for coming to his aid. 'All of them saved my life,' he said. 'I wouldn't be here without the help of so many people. I have ventured alone into the mountains before, but I'll never do that again. The buddy system only from now on, but this will not keep me from going back out there.' His father took to social media to also thank the medical team. 'What started as a fun end-of-high-school fishing trip for my son and his buddy in the western North Carolina mountains turned deadly when he was bitten by a timber rattlesnake deep in the woods,' Imran Shah wrote on Facebook. 'I'm beyond grateful for the incredible NCHART and Linville-Central Rescue teams, who got to them in the middle of nowhere and saved his life! He was air-lifted to and treated at Johnson City Medical Center, Tennessee, and is now recovering at home. We are forever in your debt.'
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Teen Felt a Prick, Then Spotted Rattlesnake. When He Rolled Down His Sock, He Saw 'Two Red Dots and Blood'
A 17-year-old boy said he was bitten by a rattlesnake during a fishing trip in the North Carolina wilderness ahead of his high school graduation Zain Shah said he was "about to turn back" when he "felt a prick" near his foot, then spotted a rattlesnake sitting near him The teen received 12 vials of antivenom at a hospital and is now recovering at homeA teenager is recovering after he was bitten by a rattlesnake in the North Carolina wilderness. Emergency crews responded to an area of Avery County on Monday, June 2, to assist 'with the rescue of a hiker that had sustained a snake bite,' according to a news release from North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM). Zain Shah, 17, told McClatchy News that he was bitten around 5 p.m. local time on the banks of Lost Cove Creek while fishing with a friend. Responding to NCEM's Facebook post, the teen's father, Imran Shah, said the pair were on 'a fun end-of-high-school fishing trip' in the western North Carolina mountains when his son was bitten by a timber rattlesnake 'deep in the woods.' According to Zain, they 'were about to turn back' for the day when he 'felt a prick' near his foot as he 'stepped over' a log, according to McClatchy News. Then, he spotted a rattlesnake sitting near him. At first, the teen said he thought, 'No way that just happened" — but when he rolled down his sock, he saw 'two red dots and blood coming out' of the wound. 'I knew it was potentially deadly,' Zain explained. Luckily, his friend's had phone service and they called 911 while attempting to return to the vehicle they arrived in. About two hours later, a Black Hawk helicopter reached Zain and hoisted him to safety, according to McClatchy News. NCEM said multiple agencies responded to the call for help, including the National Guard, which provided the Black Hawk helicopter, as well as North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team (NCHART) and the Charlotte Fire Department. Zain was then airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee, and received 12 vials of antivenom to treat the bite, according to McClatchy News. The teen, who is set to graduate from Chapel Hill High School on June 14, thanked the crews who rescued him from his precarious position. 'All of them saved my life,' he said. 'I wouldn't be here without the help of so many people.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. On Facebook, the teen's father also said he is 'beyond grateful' for the 'incredible' crews who saved Zain, who 'is now recovering at home.' He added, "We are forever in your debt." Read the original article on People
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Teen Felt a Prick, Then Spotted Rattlesnake. When He Rolled Down His Sock, He Saw 'Two Red Dots and Blood'
A 17-year-old boy said he was bitten by a rattlesnake during a fishing trip in the North Carolina wilderness ahead of his high school graduation Zain Shah said he was "about to turn back" when he "felt a prick" near his foot, then spotted a rattlesnake sitting near him The teen received 12 vials of antivenom at a hospital and is now recovering at homeA teenager is recovering after he was bitten by a rattlesnake in the North Carolina wilderness. Emergency crews responded to an area of Avery County on Monday, June 2, to assist 'with the rescue of a hiker that had sustained a snake bite,' according to a news release from North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM). Zain Shah, 17, told McClatchy News that he was bitten around 5 p.m. local time on the banks of Lost Cove Creek while fishing with a friend. Responding to NCEM's Facebook post, the teen's father, Imran Shah, said the pair were on 'a fun end-of-high-school fishing trip' in the western North Carolina mountains when his son was bitten by a timber rattlesnake 'deep in the woods.' According to Zain, they 'were about to turn back' for the day when he 'felt a prick' near his foot as he 'stepped over' a log, according to McClatchy News. Then, he spotted a rattlesnake sitting near him. At first, the teen said he thought, 'No way that just happened" — but when he rolled down his sock, he saw 'two red dots and blood coming out' of the wound. 'I knew it was potentially deadly,' Zain explained. Luckily, his friend's had phone service and they called 911 while attempting to return to the vehicle they arrived in. About two hours later, a Black Hawk helicopter reached Zain and hoisted him to safety, according to McClatchy News. NCEM said multiple agencies responded to the call for help, including the National Guard, which provided the Black Hawk helicopter, as well as North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team (NCHART) and the Charlotte Fire Department. Zain was then airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee, and received 12 vials of antivenom to treat the bite, according to McClatchy News. The teen, who is set to graduate from Chapel Hill High School on June 14, thanked the crews who rescued him from his precarious position. 'All of them saved my life,' he said. 'I wouldn't be here without the help of so many people.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. On Facebook, the teen's father also said he is 'beyond grateful' for the 'incredible' crews who saved Zain, who 'is now recovering at home.' He added, "We are forever in your debt." Read the original article on People
