ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Little girl survives after being hit by a train

Little girl survives after being hit by a train

Dogs found dead at horror crash scene

Dogs found dead at horror crash scene

Dying woman drives herself to cafe after stab attack

Dying woman drives herself to cafe after stab attack

Mum whose daughter was 'hung from tree' hit with restraining order

Mum whose daughter was 'hung from tree' hit with restraining order

{headline}

{headline}

Shocking photo surfaces of baby on train track

Shocking photo surfaces of baby on train track

Christmas Day killer dies in car crash

Christmas Day killer dies in car crash

'I killed someone's little girl'

'I killed someone's little girl'

{headline}

{headline}

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Australian airport mistakenly lets bullets on plane

Australian airport mistakenly lets bullets on plane

Aussie woman horrifically dragged into water by shark

Aussie woman horrifically dragged into water by shark

Grandmother mauled for putting bins out

Grandmother mauled for putting bins out

Mum finds deadly snake in child’s lunchbox

Mum finds deadly snake in child’s lunchbox

Deadly snake caught in life-or-death moment on camera

Deadly snake caught in life-or-death moment on camera

Pregnant woman dies after being bitten by snake

Pregnant woman dies after being bitten by snake

  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Six-year-old boy bitten by deadly snake TWICE

Very scary. - by Jordan Cutts
  • 30 Jul 2018

A six-year-old boy has survived the unthinkable — bitten not once, but twice in eight days by a venomous snake.

A six-year-old boy has survived the unthinkable — bitten not once, but twice in eight days by a venomous snake.

It happened in Wongan Hills in the Wheatbelt.

Joel Canning’s family is now warning others to learn the first aid skills that saved him.

Joel knew he was in trouble, but told himself “I’m not going to die ... I’m not doing to die.”

Joel’s mother Pippa recalls her son coming up to her.

“He came in quite calmly and asked me if you get bitten by a venomous snake in Australia — do you go to heaven? And I said yes ... and then he went down. He collapsed... and that was the only... that is when I realised it was real.”

The six-year-old was dying, he had been bitten by one of the world’s most venomous snakes: a western brown.

“He wasn’t breathing and I knew I had to just ... breathe for him,” Ms Canning said.

It happened around the corner from his Wongan Hills home.

Incredibly, Joel knew not to panic.

But the venom was moving fast.

“Somehow I got the strength to pick him up ... walk through the house with him while he was convulsing... his eyes were rolling back. He was hissing... and I knew he wasn’t getting enough oxygen ...so every third step I stopped and did rescue breaths before being able to get him in the back seat of the car,” Ms Canning said.

snake bite
7 News

Joel’s mum and dad raced him to Wongan Hills Hospital, before he was flown to Perth.

And then eight days later — the unthinkable happened.

Joel was bitten on the left foot — again by a western brown snake and again on the same street — this time across the road.

“He was losing the ability to move, to talk properly,” his mother said.

She once again thought Joel was going to die, but he stayed positive.

“I thought I was going to survive again because I survived the first time ... and I did... so when I prayed for that ... my prayer came true.”

Matt Tinney on Twitter

And Joel was right, it could have been because he still had anti-venom in his body from the first bite.

Seven months later and Joel isn’t the same little boy.

“They’re major anxiety attacks and they can happen at any time... they’ve been happening at school now... so when he did cross country because of his heart pounding and they're running through the bush he thought it was the venom again,” Ms Canning said.

The Canning family is dreading the warmer weather — as means snakes are out of hibernation.

Their message to WA families — is simple: know first aid.

This article originally appeared on PerthNow.

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Little girl survives after being hit by a train

Little girl survives after being hit by a train

Dogs found dead at horror crash scene

Dogs found dead at horror crash scene

Dying woman drives herself to cafe after stab attack

Dying woman drives herself to cafe after stab attack

Mum whose daughter was 'hung from tree' hit with restraining order

Mum whose daughter was 'hung from tree' hit with restraining order

{headline}

{headline}

Shocking photo surfaces of baby on train track

Shocking photo surfaces of baby on train track

Christmas Day killer dies in car crash

Christmas Day killer dies in car crash

'I killed someone's little girl'

'I killed someone's little girl'

{headline}

{headline}

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Australian airport mistakenly lets bullets on plane

Australian airport mistakenly lets bullets on plane

Aussie woman horrifically dragged into water by shark

Aussie woman horrifically dragged into water by shark

Grandmother mauled for putting bins out

Grandmother mauled for putting bins out

Mum finds deadly snake in child’s lunchbox

Mum finds deadly snake in child’s lunchbox

Deadly snake caught in life-or-death moment on camera

Deadly snake caught in life-or-death moment on camera

Pregnant woman dies after being bitten by snake

Pregnant woman dies after being bitten by snake

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!