Former Durban snake handler dies from black mamba bite
The colleagues of a snake handler from Durban who died after being bitten by a black mamba say he was exceptional at his job.
Twenty-seven-year old, Ryan Soobrayan suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction at the weekend.
Soobrayan, who was a manager at the African Reptiles and Venom in Johannesburg, was in charge of venom extractions and looked after the serpents.
It's believed the fang of a black mamba punctured his finger while he was busy with an extraction for anti-venom.
Owner of African Reptiles and Venom, Mike Perry says Soobrayan started working at the farm two years ago. He says they are saddened by his death.
"Ryan was my right-hand man on the snake farm and I relied on him heavily. He will be sorely missed by everybody here at the snake farm as well as in the wider snake community. He was always very helpful with whoever he could assist," Perry said.