NEWPORT, Ky. — The owner of a northern Kentucky reptile store is recovering after police officers pried off a 20-foot python that was crushing the man.
Newport police tell local news outlets that owner Terry Wilkens was feeding the snake Monday morning when the 125-pound python attacked.
Wow. A pic of the 20 foot, 125 lb python from today’s attack in #Newport #KY @WCPO pic.twitter.com/KTt3YhU2wm— John Genovese (@JEGenovese) October 6, 2015
According to multiple reports, Wilkens was showing Melissa McElfresh how to feed the snake and clean the cage when it attacked him. She then called 911.
"A horror movie in real life is what that was, probably the most scariest thing I've ever seen in my life and I'm still in shock over it," McElfresh told Cincinnati's NBC 5 News. “I saw the snake's head turn and I told him, I said, 'Terry be careful; he's looking at you,' and he said, 'It's all right,' and no sooner he said that, just as quick as lightning."
Police Lt. Greg Rapberger and Sgt. Daron Arnberg removed the snake from Wilkens' body. "I grabbed the mop and tried to hold the snake's head down and that didn't work," Arnberg told the local news outlet. "The lieutenant stepped aside me and grabbed the snake by the head so we wouldn't get bit," he added. The officers then removed the man's "lifeless" body from the reptile's grasp.
Police Chief Tom Collins says Wilkens wasn't breathing when officers were trying to free him, but he did resume breathing before he was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Collins says Wilkens' health appears to be improving and he's even talking.
Police are working with animal control to determine if the python would need to be removed from the shop, which carries more than 100 snakes.