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A kiwi conservationist bitten by a deadly snake in Costa Rica recovers and retells bad jokes, says his twin brother.
Pete Bethune was working in the jungle of the Osa Peninsula National Park in Costa Rica when he was bitten by a deadly fer-de-lance snake. He managed to leave the jungle, return to a boat and to the Golfito Hospital.
Larisa Kellett, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit Earthrace of Bethune, said Monday morning (New Zealand time) that she was still waiting to speak directly to her doctor, but had survived the night. It was just past noon in Costa Rica when Kellett spoke to Stuff.
Bethune was getting good care, he said. “They really are doing everything they can for him,” Kellett said.
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Barry Bethune, who lives in Southland, said his twin brother could be out of the hospital in four days.
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Bethune’s left leg swelled up after being bitten by a snake in Costa Rica, as this photo shows.
Pete Bethune was showering, eating, and telling bad jokes again, even though his leg was swollen twice its normal size. The venom had reached his groin area, he said.
Barry Bethune said he was used to receiving bad news about his twin, and when he found out about the snake bite, he never thought it could be his brother’s death.
Pete Bethune had a memorandum of understanding with the Costa Rican government for surveillance work and would remain in Central America for one more year, Barry Bethune said.
Kellett said she texted Pete Bethune on WhatsApp on Monday (New Zealand time) and he told her that his leg, where the sting is, had gotten worse overnight.
Christel Yardley / Waikato Times
Pete Bethune has been bitten by one of the deadliest snakes in South America.
Doctors would monitor his condition and soon decide if he needed to be transferred to another hospital.
“We are looking forward to it,” Kellett said. Bethune had eaten this morning, which she thought was a good sign.
During the WhatsApp conversation, Bethune welcomed the messages of support that came from around the world.
The hospital had asked people to stop calling them as they were getting too many calls, Kellett said.
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Bethune was able to get out of the forest unaided initially, but her condition soon deteriorated and she had to be carried.
After the bite, Bethune was able to take a short video of the snake to help the doctors identify it.
Bethune was strong and fit and was initially able to move after the bite, she said, but her condition worsened when she emerged from the jungle. He had to piggyback to shore, where a boat was waiting.
It is believed that Bethune was patrolling for illegal gold miners, who are a serious problem in the park.
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Bethune piggybacks out of the forest after being bitten by the snake.
“It is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. Pete was working alongside local rangers, who are sadly underfunded and facing an uphill battle, “Kellett said Sunday.
“These miners are usually armed, I thought more about receiving a call that they had been shot than bitten by a snake.”
