Mike Webb is so so right in this case, if you know that you have been bitten by a mamba you do not wait for an ambulance, you have to grow wings and fly to the hospital or you will die very quickly.
My little terrier was bitten by an adult mamba back in the sixties, it lost all mobility, fluttered and died within minutes.

Ian, London,

I know someone who was bitten by a black mamba in Port Edward who was immediately rushed to the Margate hospital at 160km/hr, who survived. Something is very wrong if they had identified the snake as a black mamba and then waited for an ambulance. Did they not have a vehicle?

Mike Webb, Roodepoort, South Africa

My condolances to the family and friends.
I traveled in Kenya in 2006 and met two missionaries there who had learned to treat black mamba snake bites with a stun gun. The electrical impulse denatues the venom protein. Then they treat the victim with antibiotics for the wound. They had personally treated 31 people and they had all survived. They were in very romote areas where there was no hope getting to antivenom. I can't speak to the authenticity of this claim but I totally trust the people that told me of their experiences.

Alice, Grass Valley, CA / USA

I entered this web site quite by chance and continued out of idle curiosity. The death of Nathan is, of course, a tragedy. What has struck me are those who are total strangers to him and his family who have sent their best wishes and I am happy to believe that there is good in this world.
It's heartening and I applaud you all.

Alec., Norfolk., England.

I was under the impression he was bitten in a controlled situation, but the bite was not considered to have injected poison into his system. That it was only when his vision started blurring - by which time it was too late - that anything was done.

Just goes to show how confusing different reports can be.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

To Jess in Oxford. Anti venom lasts for a very short time, and needs to be kept at a controlled temperature. You cannot carry anti venom for all of the dangerous snakes in Africa with you when you go walking in the bush.
I worked in SA for 5 years in the bush and if you do that you know the risks involved, from large predators, to snakes, to spiders. You have to be careful at all times, but sometimes it is just bad luck.
I have witnessed a nick (not even a bite) from a puff adder which almost led to an amputation, but thankfully didn't - and this was on a person who had grown up in the bush.
What happened to Nathan is truly tragic, but should not be seen as a lack of responsible attitude by his guides and teachers - they know what they are doing and they offer sound solid advice at all times. If you live and work in the bush you have to be aware of what you are doing and take responsiblity for yourself, just as you would anywhere else in the world.

A Woolsey, London, UK

Seems to me that those teachers with him should have been carrying anti venom with them at all times especially in a place where such a deadly snake can be living. It also seems like a terrible case of pure bad luck and being in the wrong spot at the wrong time. it seems to be a waste of a beautiful life but of course being mortal we can't see the whole picture. God bless Nathan and his family and friends.

Jess, Oxford, UK

I was brought up in Africa and i have seen the black mamba with my own eyes and i can tell you that it is awesome. The eyes are scarey looking . I feel sorry for this guy and his family . God bless them. Im am terrified of snakes yet i grew up in their surroundings. I suppose i know their capabilities just like the other wild animals in Africa.

god bless

richard , Hull

richard, London, uk

Working in Tanzania as I do, the one characteristic of the Black Mamba, not mentioned in the article, is that what makes them so dangerous is how aggressive they are.

Last year near the Mozambique border two people from the same village died from Mamba bites. It was neccessary to make sure (cool) anti-venom was within half an hour of potential victims

Andrew Munn, Bangkok, Thailand

Our Condolences to the Family and Friends.

Jay & April, Quezon City, Philippines

"This is tragic. But walking in long grass in an area where mambas could possibly be is very unwise. His teachers should have used more common sense.Not impressed. Sincere condolences to his family." - Nigel, London, UK

That is a bit impractical, Nigel. You would have to avoid walking in any of the bushland in South Africa going on your advice. You are as likely to find a Black Mamba in your garden in SA as you are in the bush.

Condolences to the family.

Chantel, Wales,

DIED DOING WHAT HE LOVED

Amazing. You could have engraved that epitaph on Steve Irwin's tombstone as well. Death embodied by snakes or rays. The wild takes those who love it. Even tragedy seems to adjust to categories.

Eugene, heidelberg, germany

Unusual for someone to be bitten by a black mamba in long grassland - we often had them go between us with no aggression if they were not menaced. There must be more to this story. Our best wishes to his family.

caz, sosua, dominican republic

it is sad tragedy, in foremost the teacher should orient them and have first aid or antidotes to bring before go to..

Viriel, Davao City, Philippines

We (I) get so wrap-up in the day to day challenges and become convinced that we have it the worst. Then a story like this comes around (all to offen) and we must see how lucky we are to be here at all.
GOD Bless you brother and GODSPEED to the rest of us!!
Steve

steve, palm springs, ca

Having grown up with Nathan, he was a familiar face in our village, and a guy who was liked very much amongst those that met him. It's a real tragedy that such an event has taken him from those that cared so much for him. My condolences go out to his family, girlfriend and all those that knew him. He'll certainly be missed down the queens head, may he rest in peace

John, Wing, Buckinghamshire

Having spent much time in the African Bush I was surprised because Mambas usually make themselves scarce at the approach of humans (I once memorably saw a mamba form a perfect arc in the air as it changed direction at my approach) However, according to to other newspapers he was participating in a training activity involving snakes when he was bitten.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK.

This is tragic. But walking in long grass in an area where mambas could possibly be is very unwise. His teachers should have used more common sense.Not impressed. Sincere condolences to his family.

Nigel, London, UK

Im very sorry to hear about this, my thoughts to the parents.

christopher, Dagnall, Herts

Very sad. Though snake envenomations abide by no rules I think one should familiarize themselves with the "pressure bandage" technique when venturing anywhere in Africa, Asia, Australia, Indonesia etc. Though it could have been mute since his death was so rapid studies have shown that applying a pressure bandage right after a snake bite (those snakes with neurotoxins as the main venom component i.e Mambas, Cobras, Kraits, coral Snakes etc) can delay the progression of the venom up to 6 hrs, possibly more. Black Mamba bites can treated quite successfully with antivenom if one can make it to a hospital in time and have been treated with only artificial respiration.

Very tragic. My prayers go out to his family and friends.

Jeremy, Washington, DC USA