His condition started deteriorating almost immediately, according to his daughter, Aishah Pelley.

The snake catcher was rushed to hospital and remains in the intensive care ward.

Ms Pelley said her father’s pupils dilated to nine millimetres and he suffered haemorrhaging.

“The venom went straight into his circulation system from a deep bite and started to have neurological effects immediately,” she said on social media.

“I watched him lose consciousness very fast in front of my eyes. Craig and I both thought we watched him die.

“He couldn’t talk, (or) breathe properly and the hospital asked me to discuss him possibly go on ventilation.”

He is well known across Melbourne for removing and rehoming venomous snakes from residential areas.

This is the first serious bite in 14 years, according to Ms Pelley.