In a harrowing and surreal incident that has shocked Thailand and captured international attention, a man in Nonthaburi province narrowly escaped a potentially dangerous encounter with a 12-foot python that was lurking in his home’s toilet.
The attack, which left his bathroom drenched in bloöd, unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday, August 20, 2024, sending waves of fear across a country where such incidents, though rare, are not unheard of.
The victim, Thanat Thangtewanon, recounted his terrifying ordeal from the safety of a hospital bed where he was treated for his injuries.
“I felt something biting my balls,” Thanat was quoted by local media.
“It was very painful, so I put my hands in the toilet to see what was wrong. I was shocked that I grabbed a snake,” he added.
Thanat’s immediate reaction was one of disbelief and horror.
The python had embedded its fangs into his private parts, and in a desperate bid to free himself, Thanat grabbed the nearest object, a toilet brush, and furiously beat the snake until it released its grip.
The reptile, which had slithered through the plumbing system and into the U-bend of the toilet, eventually succumbed after Thanat hit it severally.
Bloöd splattered across the bathroom as Thanat fought for his life, turning what began as a routine trip to the restroom into a scene out of a horror movie.
After subduing the python, he rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors administered a tetanus vaccine and confirmed that, miraculously, the bite was not deep enough to cause severe damage.
Thanat, who remains grateful that the snake was not venomous, will recover without the need for stitches.
“My privates are safe now. I’m lucky it wasn’t a cobra. A cobra would have killed me,” he said with a hint of relief.
Despite the fortunate outcome, the aftermath of the event has left Thanat deeply shaken.
“I haven’t used that toilet again since. Every time I go, I check what’s inside and put a brush in there to make sure,” he admitted.
Python encounters in Thailand are not entirely uncommon, especially in regions where urban sprawl has encroached on the natural habitats of these large reptiles.
Reticulated pythons, the species involved in this attack, are among the world’s longest snakes, capable of growing up to 30 feet in length.
They are often found in forests, swamps, and even urban areas, where they occasionally enter homes in search of food.
In recent years, similar incidents have been reported across Thailand.
In 2016, a resident of Chachoengsao province was attacked by a 10-foot python while using a squat toilet.
His wife had to help pry the snake’s jaws from his privates, and he narrowly survived after losing a significant amount of bloöd.
In 2020, a housewife in Samut Prakan province was bitten on the rear by a python while sitting on her toilet, an incident that also garnered widespread media attention.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, especially in areas where snakes are known to be present.
Wildlife experts recommend checking toilets and plumbing systems regularly, particularly during the rainy season when snakes are more likely to seek shelter in homes.
As for Thanat, he says he will never again take the simple act of using the bathroom for granted.
The python has since been removed from his home, but the psychological scars of the attack will likely linger long after his physical wounds have healed.