Man dies after being bitten by rattlesnake as he showed it off to crowd at festival

An experienced snake handler has died after he was bitten by a rattlesnake at a festival in the US over Bank Holiday weekend.

Eugene De Leon Sr, who had tamed and looked after snakes for more than 20 years, lost his life following the tragic incident at the Rattlesnake Roundup in the small town of Freer in South Texas on Saturday (April 30).

The 60-year-old was bitten in the shoulder before being airlifted 80 miles to a hospital on the coast, where he was pronounced dead eight hours later, the New York Post reports.

Officials and stewards at the snake show reported he was handling rattlesnakes in front of a large crowd at the time he was attacked.

The 60-year-old died doing what he loved and was well known in South Texas for his skills with snakes (Facebook/Kendall County Fair Association)

The annual festival attracts huge numbers of tourist to Freer, which is normally home to just 2,600 residents.

De Leon’s sister, Monica Dimas, said her brother “had a passion for snake handling" at the Rattlesnake Roundup in Freer, Texas, where he "gained his wings” doing what he loved.

Paying tribute to him on social media, she wrote: “After many years of handling these things, today was not your day with them… Rest in peace my brother.”

De Leon regularly appeared on local wildlife shows, and was a fan favourite at the annual festival.

And his passion for snake handling and giving back to the community was an "inspiration" to those who knew him.

The veteran snake handler was loved by all who knew him (Facebook/Kendall County Fair Association)

A spokesperson for the Freer Chamber of Commerce offered condolences to the victim's family, saying: “The love and dedication he displayed for his community was witnessed every day.

"From being a member of the Freer Volunteer Fire Department to being a call away for local residents to assist with removing snakes from their property, he was always ready to help. May you Rest in Peace Eugene."

Snaps from De Leon’s Facebook page shows how enthusiastic he was about his hobby, with one photo showing him holding a large snake while a young girl smiles and poses for the camera.

One of his fans and local Republican politician Sandra Whitten said he was "well loved" by everyone he met, adding: “My family and I enjoyed watching him handle these deadly snakes with ease, almost like he was simply dancing with them."

She added that De Leon "always had a smile on his face and clearly joy in his heart", and insisted that "our community won’t be the same without him".

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