CEBU CITY – It was a literal eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth duel when a man wrestled with a python on a road in Barangay Quinapon-an, Antequera town, Bohol.
Boljulio Aleria, a 48-year-old resident of Barangay Cabayugan, Calape town, Bohol, battled for his life and prevailed when he fought off the reticulated python locally known as “baksan.”
BOLJULIO Aleria shows wounds that he sustained in an encounter with a reticulated python on a road in Barangay Quinapon-an, Antequera town, Bohol province. (Photo courtesy of Jun Gutierez)
Interviewed by Jun Gutierez of the Bohol-based dyRD radio station, Aleria said his intense encounter with the monstrous snake happened at past 2 a.m. on Tuesday, December 19.
Aleria said that he was on his way home on board a a motorcycle when he saw a snake crossing the road.
The snake was about three meters long with a body as big as a bottle of a beer grande.
Aleria thought the snake would cross to the other side of the road but to his surprise, it leapt at him and bit his arm.
He said the snake wrapped its body around and tried to squeeze him.
Aleria’s motorcycle fell down as he tried to wrestle with the snake.
As the snake was squeezing him, Aleria kept his composure and grabbed the snake’s head using his other hand.
Bleeding and all, Aleria summoned all his strength and bit the back portion of the snake’s head.
Aleria and the snake wrestled for about 10 minutes. The snake’s grip only loosened up after its head was almost cut off after it was bitten hard by Aleria.
The snake died and Aleria was able to seek help from some residents in the area and was brought to the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City.
A reticulated python is non-venomous but could kill by squeezing its prey using its powerful body.