NIXA, MO– A Missouri man died in his sleep just hours after he was bitten by a snake and refused to seek medical attention. A venomous snake bit Gilbert Deleon in Missouri’s James River.
Deleon told his girlfriend he couldn’t afford medical attention and later died in his sleep. Now, with people heading to waterways to enjoy the summer, officials want to remind people to be safe around the wildlife.
“Anytime you’re bitten by a snake, whether you can identify the snake or not, its obviously a good idea to make sure you do get medical attention, you should always air on the side of caution,” said Warren Rose with the Department of Conservation.
Experts aren’t sure what kind of snake bit the victim, but they think it may have been a Cottonmouth snake.
Deleon told his girlfriend he couldn’t afford medical attention and later died in his sleep. Now, with people heading to waterways to enjoy the summer, officials want to remind people to be safe around the wildlife.
“Anytime you’re bitten by a snake, whether you can identify the snake or not, its obviously a good idea to make sure you do get medical attention, you should always air on the side of caution,” said Warren Rose with the Department of Conservation.
Experts aren’t sure what kind of snake bit the victim, but they think it may have been a Cottonmouth snake.
