Deadly pose: Snake rescuer dies after flaunting cobra on neck for 'reel'; was teasing reptile

BHOPAL: Shooting a 'reel' with a poisonous cobra slung around his neck cost a 42-year-old snake rescuer his life in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday. Deepak Mahawar, who worked with a private college and was a popular snake rescuer from Raghogarh, rescued snakes for several years.In the afternoon, he received a phone call from panic-stricken Barbatpura villagers to catch a poisonous reptile. While he was on the 'mission' to rescue the cobra, he received a call from his son’s school asking him to pick up his son as the school closed early. After catching the cobra, Deepak rode his bike towards his son's school to pick him up by casually slinging the cobra around his neck.At the school, he posed for anxious onlookers, some of whom took out their phones to make a reel for social media. A video clip showing Deepak sitting on his motorcycle with a cobra slithering around his neck has gone viral. He is seen in the video teasing the cobra.After shooting the 'reel' while Deepak was returning home with his son riding pillion, the reptile bit him in the hand, leaving him unconscious.

Reel with snake slung around neck: Rescuer died within 12 hours of bite

As he was busy driving with his son pillion, the snake bit him in the hand leaving him unconscious. He was rushed to a hospital in Raghogarh and later referred to Guna district hospital.

After treatment, he showed signs of recovery and returned home in the evening.However, his condition deteriorated around midnight. He was taken to the hospital but died before being treated. A post-mortem was conducted on Tuesday, and the body was handed over to the family. Mahawar was widely known in the region for rescuing and safely relocating hundreds of snakes from residential areas into the wild.