A woman in her 60s was bitten by an eastern brown snake that became caught in her bike chain while cycling on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail near Burringbar in the Tweed Shire, northern New South Wales, on Wednesday, July 16th 2026.

The two-metre snake became entangled in the bike chain, with its mid-section trapped but the top half free and "very active," according to snake catcher Sarah Mailey. She pinned the snake's head to prevent further bites while police and bystanders helped disentangle it before she euthanased the snake.

The woman was bitten on the thigh and taken to Tweed Valley Hospital in a stable condition. NSW Ambulance said paramedics were called to the incident near Upper Burringbar Road around 1pm. The Northern NSW Local Health District reported she was released from hospital early the following day.

Eastern brown snakes are among the world's most deadly, but the snake's bite did not deliver venom. Ms Mailey noted the snake had a pre-existing eye injury and possibly did not see the bike approaching. She also advised rail trail users to always carry compression bandages, as snakes are common on the trail.

"So the snakes aren't going to go, 'Oh well, I'm leaving now'. It's their home. They're still going to be there," Ms Mailey said.

Sources