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Woman Finds Highly Venomous Tiger Snake "slithering Up Her Leg" While Driving Down Australia Highway

A driver cruising down a highway in eastern Australia felt something on her foot and discovered a deadly tiger snake "slithering up her leg," police said Sunday.

Officers found her on the side of the Monash Freeway near Melbourne, barefoot and in a state of shock after her Friday morning encounter with the reptile, Victoria state police said in a news release titled: "Fangs on the freeway."

"The woman explained that she had been travelling at 80kph (50 mph) on the freeway when she felt something on foot and looked down to find a deadly tiger snake slithering up her leg," police said in a statement.

"Remarkably, she was able to fend the snake off her and weave through traffic before pulling over and leaping out of her car to safety."

A driver cruising down a highway in eastern Australia discovered a deadly tiger snake "slithering up her leg," police said. Victoria State Police

Tiger snakes, named after their colored stripes, are among the most venomous snakes in the world, according to the state's wildlife department.

Thick bodied and about a meter (three feet) long, they respond to threats by raising themselves off the ground and flattening their heads and neck, it says.

Police said the woman was assessed by paramedics to ensure she had not been bitten. Finally, a professional snake catcher was brought in and police posted video of the deadly reptile being taken from the car.

"Needless to say, slapping the cuffs on this offender wasn't an option so officers called in specialist forces," police said. "Tim from Melbourne Snake Control was contacted, quickly identified the tiger snake (the fourth most venomous snake in the world) and volunteered his services. Passing motorists were left in bewilderment as the massive snake was safely removed from the vehicle."

According to the Australian Museum, tiger snakes are typically found in water such as creeks, dams, drains, lagoons and swamps. They are also excellent climbers, able to scale also both vegetation and man-made constructions (including human legs), and have been found as high as 30 feet above the ground.

The museum advises people to stay away from the tiger snake, which justifiably has a "fearsome reputation."

"The snake's large size, often aggressive defense and toxic venom make it extremely dangerous to humans," the museum says. "It will hiss loudly as it inflates and deflates its body, and if provoked further will lash out and bite forcefully. The venom of the tiger snake is strongly neurotoxic and coagulant, and anyone suspected of being bitten should seek medical attention immediately."

Dangerous snakes have emerged in other unlikely spots in Australia. In June, a highly venomous snake was found lurking in a child's bed, blending in with her stuffed animals. In January, another family spotted a dangerous eastern brown snake in the underwear drawer of their 3-year-old son.

Woman Finds Deadly Tiger Snake 'Slithering Up Her Leg' While Driving At 50 Mph On Freeway: 'State Of Shock'

A woman in Australia is recovering from the shock of finding a deadly snake in her car while driving on the freeway.

Authorities arrived to help the woman after they received reports of her "attempting to flag down passing vehicles" while walking barefoot along the Monash Freeway in Melbourne at around 10:40 a.M. Local time on Saturday, Nov. 30, Victoria Police said in a statement.

The unidentified woman explained to police that she had been driving at 50 mph on the freeway when "she felt something on her foot," before looking down "to find a deadly tiger snake slithering up her leg," per the statement.

According to police, the woman "remarkably" managed to fend off the snake while driving and dodging traffic "before pulling over and leaping out of her car to safety."

The woman was left "in a state of shock" afterward, police said. They added that she was checked over by paramedics for any bites afterward, which she did not appear to have.

Nanninga of Melbourne Snake Control captures a deadly tiger snake for release on the side of the freeway near Melbourne in Australia on Nov. 30.

Victoria Police/Instagram

Tim Nanninga from Melbourne Snake Control was called in to handle the snake. He identified the reptile as the tiger snake, which is the third most venomous snake in Australia, according to Australian Geographic.

"Bites are fatal if untreated, causing pain in the feet and neck, tingling, numbness and sweating, followed by breathing difficulties and paralysis," according to Australian Geographic. "The venom also damages the blood and muscles, leading to renal failure."

The tiger snake is also responsible for the second-highest number of bites in the country per Australian Geographic, and is the fifth most venomous snake in the world, according to the Rainforest Trust.

"[It's] a miracle how she got off the road and safely parked the car and called [Victoria Police]," Nanninga told CNN affiliate 9 News.

Tim Nanninga of Melbourne Snake Control releases the deadly tiger snake.

Victoria Police/Instagram

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"Normally when snakes are in cars they find a really nice little hidey hole and they can stay in for days and not come out, but we were lucky the snake moved along to the back of the car," he explained, per ABC 17.

Passing motorists were "left in bewilderment" as Nanninga safely removed the tiger snake from the woman's vehicle, police said.

The tiger snake is the third most venomous snake in Australia.

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Per 9 News, Nanninga urged in the event of anyone coming across a tiger snake to "stay calm, keep your distance."

"They're not going to chase after you, they're not out there to hurt you," he added.

Australian Woman Finds Deadly Tiger Snake At Her Feet While Driving 50 Miles Per Hour

CNN —

Police in Australia said a woman was forced to fend off a deadly tiger snake in her vehicle while driving 50 miles per hour on a freeway outside Melbourne.

Police officers responded to reports of a barefoot woman trying to flag down vehicles on the side of the Monash Freeway on Saturday, Victoria Police said in a statement.

The woman told the officers that she had been traveling 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour) when she felt something on her foot and looked down to find a tiger snake — one of the world's most venomous serpents — slithering up her leg.

"Remarkably, she was able to fend the snake off her and weave through traffic before pulling over and leaping out of her car to safety," the police said, adding that she was assessed by paramedics to ensure she hadn't been bitten.

Australia is famous for its deadly creatures, including a wide variety of sharks, snakes and two of the world's most poisonous spiders. In October, a solo hiker was found alive after suffering a snake bite while missing for nearly two weeks in Australia's Snowy Mountains.

Tim Nanninga of Melbourne Snake Control, who was called to the scene to capture and relocate the snake, said the woman in Melbourne was very fortunate. "It's a miracle how she got off the road and safely parked the car," he told CNN affiliate 9News.

"Normally when snakes are in cars they find a really nice little hidey hole and they can stay in for days and not come out, but we were lucky the snake moved along to the back of the car," he noted.

Experts say the recent tropical weather Melbourne has experienced is drawing snakes out of creeks and riverbeds, 9News reported.

CNN's Hilary Whiteman contributed to this report.

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