KISS OF DEATH
NEWS COPY - WITH PICTURES - by Abhitash Singh
A teenager has died after he was bitten by a cobra - while KISSING it for a photo stunt.
Somnath Mhatre, 18, is a volunteer snake rescuer and had plucked the venomous reptile from a car in a bid to take it to a safe place.
But when he posed for a photo attempting to peck the snake on the head, the hooded animal turned on him, sinking its fangs into his chest.
The teenager was rushed to hospital in Navi Mumbai, India, where he fought for his life, but died five days later.
A fellow snake rescuer, who didn’t want to be named, said: "Somnath had gone to rescue a snake from a car at central business district Belapur.
"But after successfully rescuing the cobra, he took it to another location where was attempting to record his act of kissing the cobra on its head.
"It was during that photo-op the snake suddenly turned and bit Somnath on his chest."
Animal lover Mr Mhatre - who had rescued more than 100 snakes - died on February 2.
Activists are now calling on the Forest Department to issue guidelines to take action against those involved in performing and posting pictures of stunts involving snakes.
ENDS