Mystery as snake handler, 31, is found dead next to pet python with ‘serious injuries’ on his body — sparking police investigation
A PYTHON is at the centre of a mystery death investigation after its lifeless owner was discovered nearby.
Police said experienced handler Dan Brandon, 31, who owned several as pets, had suffered “serious injuries”.
Update: Coroner reveals new details of snake handler's death
One of his beloved snakes, which can grow up to 25ft long, was outside of its pen when his body was discovered by officers.
Authorities confirmed that it was under investigation.
Pythons have killed humans before though experts say this would be the first time one has fatally struck in Britain.
Wildlife fan Dan, who is believed to have lived with his parents, was found dead on August 25 in Church Crookham, Hants. He was discovered in his room, where he kept all his snakes.
His social media profiles show photos of him with his pets, including one of a huge Burmese python draped over his body.
A source said: “It is under investigation whether the snake was involved. The death is in an investigation stage between natural causes and an inquest. Investigators are waiting for the full toxicology results and reports to come back from a post-mortem.
“Depending on the results, an inquest may be opened.”
A spokesman for Hampshire Police told The Sun: “We were called to an address in Church Crookham. A 31-year-old man had suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Dan’s devastated family did not want to comment.
But a friend said they believed the snake had nothing to do with his death and hoped the investigation would prove that.
A man was killed by a python in Indonesia this year while two boys died in Canada after one escaped from a pet shop in 2013.
However a spokeswoman for Surrey and Hampshire Reptile Rescue said last night: “There’s never been a case of a python killing someone in Britain before. They only kill what they eat.”
A JustGiving page for Dan is raising money for the World Wide Fund for Nature. It reads: “He was obsessed with snakes, spiders, birds and all wildlife. We will all miss you so much.”
Prey gets squeezed
PYTHONS usually live for up to 25 years in caves or trees near the equator.
They are non-venomous and hunt livestock including pigs, goats, dogs, cats, monkeys, cats and chickens.
Pythons have been known to attack people when they feel threatened.
They squeeze their prey to death before swallowing it whole. Some pythons only need to eat four or five times a year.
