WATCH: 64-year-old woman survives two-hour python attack at her home in Bangkok

Police officers and animal control experts intervened to free Arom from the 16-foot python’s grip eventually.

BANGKOK:

A 64-year-old woman from Thailand, identified as Arom, experienced a terrifying ordeal after being strangled by a massive python for two hours while doing household chores at her home near Bangkok.

The snake, estimated to be between 13 and 16 feet long, attacked as Arom was washing dishes in her kitchen.

She initially felt a sharp pain in her thigh and looked down to see the python biting her leg. The snake quickly wrapped itself around her torso, tightening its grip as it coiled around her body.

Arom attempted to free herself by grabbing the snake's head, but the python only squeezed tighter, pinning her to the kitchen floor.

For two hours, she struggled against the snake's tightening coils, desperately calling out for help. Initially, no one responded to her cries, leaving her alone to fight off the deadly constrictor.

Eventually, one of her neighbours heard her distress and alerted the authorities.

When the police arrived at the scene, they were shocked to find Arom lying on the floor, completely immobilised by the python.

Police Major Sergeant Anusorn Wongmalee, from the Phra Samut Chedi Police Station in Samut Prakan province, which is located south of Bangkok, described the snake as “really big” and difficult to handle.

Police officers and animal control experts quickly intervened to free Arom from the python’s grip. Using a crowbar, they struck the snake’s head repeatedly in an effort to get it to release its hold.

After several attempts, the python finally loosened its coils and slithered away before authorities could capture it.

Despite a coordinated effort to find and trap the snake, it managed to escape into the surrounding area.

Arom was rushed to the hospital following the incident, where she received treatment for multiple snake bites.

Fortunately, despite the severity of the attack, she did not sustain any life-threatening injuries.

She later recounted her ordeal, explaining how she had been unable to break free from the python's grip despite her efforts.

"I grabbed it by the head, but it wouldn’t release me," Arom said. "It only tightened."

Pythons, although non-venomous, are known for their method of killing prey by constriction.

They wrap their muscular bodies around their target and squeeze tighter with each breath their victim takes, cutting off blood flow and eventually causing death by suffocation.

Though they generally feed on smaller animals, pythons are capable of attacking humans, especially when they feel threatened or cornered.

Thailand is home to about 250 different species of snakes, including three varieties of pythons—reticulated, Burmese, and blood pythons.

These snakes are commonly found in both rural and urban areas of Thailand, especially during the rainy season when they may enter homes seeking shelter.

According to Thailand’s National Health Security Office, over 12,000 people were treated for venomous snake and animal bites in 2022.

While the majority of these cases involved non-fatal incidents, 26 people died from snake bites that year. Although deaths caused by large constrictors are rare, there have been several high-profile cases, particularly in neighbouring countries like Indonesia.

Last month, a woman was tragically found dead inside the stomach of a python in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, after the snake had swallowed her whole.

In a separate incident in June, another woman in the same region was also discovered inside the belly of a reticulated python.

While Arom’s encounter with the python ended with her life being saved, it highlights the potential dangers posed by large constrictor snakes in Southeast Asia.

Despite their non-venomous nature, pythons can be deadly due to their sheer strength and ability to suffocate their prey.

Local authorities are still searching for the python that attacked Arom, but as of now, it remains on the loose.

The incident also underscores the challenges faced by both residents and authorities in regions where humans and wildlife, including snakes, frequently come into close contact.

Arom’s case, while alarming, is not isolated, and serves as a reminder of the importance of awareness and precautionary measures in areas where large snakes are present.