[CULTDIAMONDS]

Tuesday November 23, 2010

Fireman wakes up from coma after snake attack more gung-ho about his job

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI
farik@thestar.com.my

JOHOR BARU: Veteran fireman Mohd Safa Mausor was in a coma for nine days after a snake bite. When he woke up, he became even more gung-hoabout his job. In fact, he said taking the bite was “worth it” as he had spared his colleague Subory Md Isa, 40, from being attacked by the snake.



All fired up: Mohd Safa showing his injured leg at the Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Baru Monday.

“I have been serving as a fireman for more than 30 years. It was the first time I was bitten. Well, there is always a first time for everything,” he said, laughing. Recounting the incident yesterday, Mohd Safa, 50, said he and Subory had gone to a water treatment plant in Kota Tinggi on Nov 10 to catch the 3.3m-long cobra in a pipe near the staff quarters.

“It was a routine catch. But the snake became aggressive and I had to distract it from attacking my colleague. “We managed to grab its head and overpower it and put it inside a bag,” he said, adding that he did not notice he had been bitten until they were on their way back to the Kota Tinggi Fire and Rescue Department.

The snake was later killed. Mohd Safa said he went for a check-up at the Kota Tinggi Hospital. However, he could not remember much about later events as he slipped into a coma. He is still warded at the Sultan Ismail Hospital and will undergo a minor procedure later on the right leg to treat his bite wound.

“I am thankful to my wife for being by my side from day one,” said the father of four children aged between 15 and 27. He is looking forward to returning to his home in Taman Mawar, Kota Tinggi. “This incident has not dampened my spirit. I hope to continue working as a fireman as long as my body is able,” he said.