A forest ranger had a brush with death when a huge python tried to strangle him after he rescued the snake and posed for a photo with it around his neck. Sanjoy Dutta was leading a team that saved the 10 metre-long python from a forest in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India.
After capturing the serpent, Mr Dutta put it over his shoulder while a crowd of people posed for a photograph with him.
But the forest ranger panicked when the snake tried to wrap itself around his neck and strangle him.
He raced to loosen the snake’s grip while another rescuer pulled the animal’s tail in a bid to stop it cutting the circulation to the man’s head.
The brief video footage shows the officer holding the giant reptile wrapped around his shoulder while the crowd cheers at the officer’s courage.
All of a sudden the snake caught hold of his neck and tried to wrap its body around him.
Onlookers started to scream in fear as they watched the reptile attack him.
Underterred by the incident, the officer can then be seen walking in and saying: ‘Leave it nothing will happen.’
The python was later released deep inside the forest.
