Key Facts

• The woman was cycling on the northern rivers rail trail near Burringbar when she ran over a two-metre eastern brown snake.
• The snake got tangled in her bike chain, biting her on the thigh.
• Paramedics treated her, and she was taken to Tweed Valley hospital in a stable condition; she was discharged the next morning.
• The eastern brown snake is one of the world’s most venomous snakes and common in eastern Australia.
• The snake catcher said the snake’s head was free to strike and the woman experienced a "dry bite," where no venom entered her bloodstream.
• The snake was euthanised due to injuries from being trapped in the bike chain.
• Cooler weather and the snake being blind in one eye likely slowed its reflexes and contributed to the incident.
• Eastern brown snakes are often confused with harmless snake species by the public.