A recent incident in Morton National Park is a strong reminder of just how critical correct first aid can be when things go wrong in the Australian outdoors. As ABC News report, a bushwalker was bitten twice by an eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) and survived largely due to early first aid and very rapid access to antivenom.
Eastern brown snakes are responsible for more fatalities in Australia than any other snake species, not because they are aggressive, but because their venom is extremely potent and fast-acting.
What Happened
Helen Worrell was hiking with friends on the Florence Head Track, part of the Morton National Park located north-west of Ulladulla, when she was bitten on the back of the lower leg. Initially, the bite marks appeared minor, which is common with elapid snake bites. However, her clinical condition deteriorated quickly, with collapse and loss of consciousness shortly after envenomation.
This rapid deterioration is typical of significant eastern brown snake envenomation, where systemic effects can occur before local tissue injury becomes obvious.
Emergency services were contacted immediately via 000, and first aid was commenced while help was on the way.
The First Aid That Made the Difference
The most important intervention for Helen was the application of a pressure immobilisation bandage (PIB) to her envenomated limb.
Pressure immobilisation works by compressing lymphatic vessels rather than arterial blood flow. This significantly slows the systemic spread of venom, buying critical time until definitive care is available. For eastern brown snake venom, which contains powerful procoagulant toxins, this delay can be lifesaving.
Helen’s limb was kept immobilised and she remained as still as possible—another key component of reducing venom movement through the lymphatic system.
From there, a coordinated emergency response enabled antivenom to be retrieved and delivered rapidly. Antivenom was administered to Helen at approximately 50 minutes after the bite, which is exceptionally fast given the remote environment.
Medical teams later confirmed that the venom load Helen received was substantial and survival without antivenom would have been unlikely.
Why Eastern Brown Snake Bites Are So Dangerous
Eastern brown snake venom causes venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy (VICC). This condition results from widespread activation of the clotting cascade, leading to rapid depletion of clotting factors such as fibrinogen.
Once VICC develops, the patient is at high risk of spontaneous haemorrhage, including intracranial bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, and bleeding from puncture sites. Without antivenom, supportive care alone cannot reverse this process.
Antivenom works by neutralising circulating venom, allowing the body to gradually restore normal coagulation function.
Key Takeaways for Bushwalkers and First Aiders
This incident reinforces several critical points we emphasise in first aid training:
- Always carry a compression bandage when hiking or working in snake-prone environments
- Apply pressure immobilisation immediately after a suspected snake bite
- Immobilise the patient completely and keep them calm
- Do not wash the bite site or attempt to capture or kill the snake
- Activate emergency services early—time to antivenom matters
Final Thoughts
This case highlights how effective first aid can dramatically change outcomes in life-threatening situations. If you are not already first aid trained, now is the time to get prepared. We cover snake bite first aid and practise the Pressure Immobilisation Technique at both our Port Macquarie First Aid Courses and Taree First Aid courses. Don’t wait for an emergency to realise you aren’t prepared as you should be, check out our upcoming course date options and enrol in a course today.
