Australia: Trucker fights off deadly snake while driving at 70mph

An Australian trucker managed to fight off a highly venomous snake while doing 70mph along a busy road.

Police in Queensland pulled over the 27-year-old man at around 5pm on 15 June because they believed he was speeding.

But when questioned, the driver, who gave his name as Jimmy, claimed he had been desperately trying to defend himself against a snake that had got into his truck.

The eastern brown snake, which is one of the deadliest in the world, tried to wrap itself around him as he drove along, but he managed to keep it at bay with his seatbelt and a knife, he told police.

Video recorded on one of the officer's bodycams captures him saying: "I'm driving along at 100, and I just started to brake.

"The more I moved my legs... it just started to wrap around me. Its head just started striking at the chair, between my legs."

Luckily, he escaped the ordeal without being bitten, but the adrenaline meant he wasn't sure what had happened.

He said to the officers: "I think it has bitten me, it was in the car with me. You can feel my heart, mate.

"It was pretty terrifying. I've never been so happy to see red and blue lights."

A Queensland Police spokesman said in a statement: "Although the traffic officer had heard his fair share of excuses for speeding, he soon realised this was not just another colourful tale and promptly sought medical assistance."

Paramedics were called and checked him over for shock, while officers decided not to fine him for speeding at 123km/h (76mph), they added.