Snake catcher Sarah Mailey, from I\u2019ll Catch It Snake Relocations<\/a>, said the woman was taken to hospital by ambulance and was being treated for a suspected bite.<\/p>\n Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n The eastern brown is regarded as Australia\u2019s second-most venomous land snake, with venom that attacks the nervous system and blood clotting, making bites potentially fatal without urgent medical treatment.<\/p>\n Later on Wednesday, Mailey said it was believed to be a dry bite but cautioned she was \u201cnot out of the woods just yet\u201d.<\/p>\n Doctors monitored her closely overnight amid fears the venom could still take effect hours after the incident.<\/p>\n Relief came on Thursday morning when the woman was discharged after doctors confirmed the bite was dry.<\/p>\n \u201cShe got discharged this morning and her husband picked her up,\u201d Mailey told 7NEWS.com.au<\/p>\n \u201cA member of the public was so kind and dropped the bikes back.\u201d<\/p>\n The snake was not as fortunate. When Mailey arrived, the snake was still entwined in the bicycle.<\/p>\n With the snake still alive, Mailey first restrained its head before members of the public and NSW Police<\/a> helped dismantle parts of the bicycle to free the tangled eastern brown. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got him. I\u2019m not going to let him go,\u201d she reassured rescuers in a video shared online.<\/p>\n Mailey rushed the injured reptile to the nearest wildlife hospital, about 30 minutes away, but its injuries were too severe to survive.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately the injuries were mid-body where all the vital organs are,\u201d she said.
<\/p>\n \u201cThe snake had to be euthanised.\u201d
<\/p>\n Mailey believes the eastern brown\u2019s impaired vision may have contributed to the incident.
<\/p>\n \u201cThe snake was blind in one eye, which is why I think it didn\u2019t see the bike coming,\u201d she said.
<\/p>\n \u201cSnakes have poor vision, but they notice movement and vibrations. That one could only rely on vibrations, so I think it didn\u2019t move out of the way in time.\u201d
<\/p>\n While cyclists striking snakes is not unheard of, Mailey said she had never encountered one becoming entangled in a bicycle chain.
<\/p>\n \u201cThose incidents have happened before many times, but this one was a first for me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are always tricky situations in wildlife rescue.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had tree snakes in Christmas trees, and last week I had a fox trying to eat a python that was still alive in its mouth, so I had to deal with that.\u201d
<\/p>\n In a social media<\/a> update, I\u2019ll Catch It Snake Relocations said snake bites are often painless and symptoms can be delayed, urging anyone who has been bitten \u2014 or suspects they have been bitten \u2014 to call Triple-0, apply a pressure bandage, immobilise the affected limb and remain as still as possible until help arrives.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/bcc507424a02ee0a3bce09f5dccaaf88851d88ef-16x9-x0y0w1280h720.jpg\")
The highly venomous eastern brown became wedged in the bicycle after the rider accidentally ran over it on the rail trail. Credit: I\u2019ll Catch It Snake Relocations\/Facebook![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5c0e312e53d81aa8b1522cbf3f68c625f3009e1c-16x9-x0y0w1280h720.jpg\")
A woman enjoying a bike ride on her last day of her holiday was rushed to hospital after accidentally riding over a highly venomous snake on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail at Burringbar, NSW. Credit: I\u2019ll Catch It Snake Relocations\/Facebook<\/p>\n![\"Snake](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e2cb71d983f6fddffa6050348d36429d9f7083ca-16x9-x0y0w1280h720.jpg\")
Snake catcher Sarah Mailey carefully restrained the eastern brown. Credit: I\u2019ll Catch It Snake Relocations\/Facebook![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/813954ace357a889580033c05b3166e4d58a5ff0-16x9-x0y0w1280h720.jpg\")
The highly venomous eastern brown was carefully worked free from the bicycle chain, but was later euthanised after suffering critical injuries in the collision. Credit: I\u2019ll Catch It Snake Relocations\/Facebook<\/p>\n