An English snake breeder has died after being bitten by one of his pet king cobras, just days after boasting they would never hurt him.
Snake expert Luke Yeomans, 47, died of a heart attack yesterday immediately after being bitten by the reptile.
He kept 24 snakes in a compound behind his Nottinghamshire home as a "safety net" to protect them against extinction and was planning to open up the space to the public.
Mr Yeomans had previously written on his website that his King Cobra Sanctuary breeding colony was going to offer the public the chance to see the "large and dangerous, but also misunderstood venomous snake".
In a recent interview to publicise the sanctuary’s opening, he said the trust he had built with the reptiles ensured they would not turn on him, the Mirror reports.
"They know I provide them with fresh food and water, and so they are not going to go out of their way to do harm to me when I do no harm to them whatsoever, " he said.
Police said Mr Yeomans was pronounced dead at the scene about 2pm yesterday and the snake had been contained.
"Nottinghamshire Police will investigate the circumstances surrounding the death in conjunction with the appropriate agency and will liaise with the coroner's office," a statement from the local police department said.
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