Snake surprise for shocked gardener
Date published: 29 August 2008
A cool-headed Oldham council worker was praised for his prompt action when he confronted a boa-constrictor outside homes packed with young families.
Michael McEvilly, who works for the borough’s StreetScene team, came face to face with the 5ft long, brightly-coloured reptile in Coldhurst as he was cutting grass yesterday.
But the 39-year-old environment operative calmly raised the alarm — then carried on working at Raleigh Close near the town centre with his four-wheel mower.
The drama began when the noise of Michael’s mower disturbed the snake which was hiding in long grass on the outside wall of a block of apartments.
Gaze
He said: “The snake’s head appeared directly in front of me as I was driving the mower . I was really surprised. I just couldn’t believe it.
“I braked and the snake just kept on staring at me — it was quite spooky. I was more concerned about the safety of children living in the houses than anything else.
“I switched the mower’s engine off and called police. The snake had a very thick body — and I was surprised at it’s size.
“It slithered to a wall of one of the houses and began to climb to try and get away — but it never averted its gaze,” he said.
A police van arrived and an officer summoned back up and contacted GMP’s special response unit for advice.
“I left them to it,” said Michael, who has worked for StreetScene for five years. “I reported in to my depot then went for a cup of tea and a sandwich before going back to work.”
Mother-to be, Maud Kelbie (19), lives in Raleigh Close. She said: “I think Michael’s very brave.
“I would have been terrified if I’d seen the snake. I’m really frightened of them.
“I can’t believe he just went back to work — I would have been shaking all day.”
The snake has been handed to a reptile collector while police carry out inquiries to trace the owner.
A police spokesman said: “We’d like to thank this man for reporting the snake to us.
“It was a boa constrictor which doesn’t have a poisonous bite but is still dangerous.”
And an Oldham Council spokesman added: “We would like to thank Mr McEvilly for handling this situation in such a mature and professional manner.”
The boa constrictor, found in Central and South America, can reach up to 13ft in length and belongs to the same family as the python and anaconda.
Its prey consists mainly of birds and small mammals which they seize in their jaws, entwine in their powerful body coils and kill by suffocation.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THE SNAKE BELONGS TO?
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