15-foot python attacks reptile shop owner

The owner of a reptile store in Newport, Ohio, was recovering after police pried off a 20-foot python that was wrapped around his head, neck and torso, crushing him on Monday.

“For whatever reason, the snake grabbed the handler by his arm, came from out of his quarters and wrapped around his entire body and his entire neck”, said Newport Police Chief Thomas Collins.

Two Newport officers pulled the the 125-pound snake off Terry Wilkens, owner of Captive Born Reptiles, police chief Tom Collins said. A customer inside the store was able to call 911.

The victim started breathing again as crews transported him to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, said Collins.

“When we arrived on the scene the man was on the floor, there was a lot of blood all over”, said Collins.

They were able to get Wilkins breathing on his own before he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

Captive Born Reptiles has followed city ordinances about live animals, according to Collins.

‘At that point in time, Sgt. (Daron) Arnberg, as I’m pulling, he started loosening the coils around the guy, and finally the snake came out’. He said that if the officers had shot the snake, it would have constricted even tighter and killed the man.

The snake – a “breeder” animal which is not a pet and is rarely handled by humans – was wrangled back into its cage, and is still alive.

Rapberger estimated the snake was probably about 100 pounds and 15-feet long.

“I’m shocked – I’m scarred for life basically”, he said.