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A DAD was bitten by a stowaway snake that hid in his motorbike on a ride through Europe.
Dave Craker was told by doctors he was lucky to be alive after being bitten without realising.
He had returned home when his right leg became swollen and painful while on another ride.
Doctors said it was likely he had been bitten by something and gave him antibiotics but they had no effect.
Days later, Dave, 62, noticed a foul smell coming from his BMW R1200 GS. And when he removed a panel he found a mangled 18in snake — likely a European viper, below left, experts said.
He reckons he picked it up while riding around France, Spain and Portugal.
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Dave said: “I realised that’s what had bitten me — and that I’d been carrying around snake venom in my leg.”
He went back to hospital where he was given an antidote.
Accounting firm archivist Dave, of Worthing, West Sussex, said: “I’m lucky to be alive. The consultant was amazed.
“He said, ‘You shouldn’t be here’. He said I should have died within 48 hours. He was really surprised I hadn’t lost my leg.”
Dad-of-two Dave rode through Europe after cancer treatment.
He said: “It’s so bizarre to think I survived cancer and was then nearly taken out by a stowaway snake on my motorcycle.
