Australian pensioner trapped in home for six days by snake

A frightened woman was a prisoner in her own home for six days after a large black snake set up camp at her front gate. Disabled pensioner Meredith Schetrumpf, of Delia Ave, Budgewoi, phoned numerous organisations for help but without success. She’s now campaigning for the establishment of an emergency snake recovery service, similar to the ‘vicious dog’ collection service provided by council rangers.

Ms Schetrumpf receives a disability pension and lives alone with her pet dog, Jack, following the death of her husband. On March 18, she looked out her window to see a 2m king red-bellied black snake curled up at the gate on the path outside her front door. Terrified it might enter her house she phoned police, her local MP and Wyong Council who gave her several numbers to call for help.



However the numbers were either disconnected or didn’t answer. One organisation that did answer the phone was WIRES which said they would only come out if the snake was injured. Scared and frustrated Ms Schetrumpf was eventually put on to a snake handler at Maitland the following Wednesday who for an $80 fee came to her rescue.

“For six days I was a prisoner in my house,” she said. “I know many of our local organisations are volunteers and they’re very busy. But not to be able to get anyone at all locally to help was very disappointing. Why can’t the council have someone on staff who is adept at handling snakes and can help in these emergencies?”