NEWS

Snake Bite Kills Pregnant Mum and Unborn Baby in Western Australia

476 Shares

A little boy is left without his mum and soon-to-be sibling after poison from a snake bite killed a heavily pregnant woman in Meekathurra, WA.

‘Loving mum’ Sinita Martin – Nita to her friends – was just weeks off giving birth to her second child when the snake struck outside her home. Her unborn baby also died.

The tragedy has left a family in mourning and acts as a stark reminder of just how important it is to be snake aware.

Lethal snake bite kills mum and bub

Sinita Martin, 27, was preparing for the birth of her second baby, due in April. She and her three-year-old son had recently moved to Meekatharra, WA to be closer to her mum, Evelyn.

Sinita, 31 weeks pregnant, was outside her family’s home on Main Street when the snake bit. St. John Ambulance received a call around 8.15pm with reports of a woman in her 20s “having a fit” after being bitten by something. When they arrived at the house at 8.45pm, Sinita had gone into cardiac arrest.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics and doctors at Meekathurra Hospital, neither Sinita nor her unborn baby survived. Both died in hospital.

Bite suspected to be from Western Brown Snake

Although the identity of the snake hasn’t been confirmed, it is suspected Sinita was bitten by a western brown snake. The brown snake is one of the most venomous snakes in Australia.

According to Dr Bryan Fry, Associate Professor for the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland, “The brown snakes are the only Australian snakes that regularly kill people in under an hour. They have an usually fast acting venom which is what makes them so dangerous.

From when people start feeling the effects to the time of death it can be as short as a few minutes.”

Snake bite warning for pregnant mums

Dr Fry also mentioned that pregnancy could have played a role in Sinita’s rapid decline.

“Pregnant women already have low blood pressure to begin with. They’re already a couple of steps towards the danger zone just by virtue of being pregnant.”

What to do if you or your child gets bitten by a snake

Snake spottings are common across Australia. But snake bites that result in deaths are still relatively rare. Even so, all families should be aware of what to do in the event of a snake bite.

Please see our Snake Bite Guidelines for the step-by-step plan for staying snake safe.

476 Shares
Avatar of Jenna Galley

Born and raised in Canada, Jenna now lives in Far North Queensland with her tribe. When the mum-of-three is not writing, you can find her floating in the pool, watching princess movies, frolicking on the beach, bouncing her baby to sleep or nagging her older kids to put on their pants.

Write A Comment

Share via
Copy link