Overview

• The incident occurred on August 8 in Savage Gulf State Park when witnesses say the unidentified hiker grabbed a timber rattlesnake about half a mile down a trail.
• First responders performed on-site CPR and then transported the victim to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
• Grundy County Emergency Management Agency Director Matthew Griffith confirmed the snake was likely a timber rattlesnake and extended condolences to the hiker’s family.
• Timber rattlesnakes are one of four venomous snake species in Tennessee, and the CDC estimates U.S. venomous snakebites cause 7,000–8,000 injuries and about five deaths annually.
• Officials have advised hikers to carry first-aid supplies, remain calm when encountering wildlife, never attempt to handle snakes and seek immediate professional medical care if bitten.