A shocking incident unfolded in Samut Prakan, Thailand, where a 64-year-old woman found herself in a desperate battle for survival after a giant python wrapped around her and squeezed tightly for over two hours. Arom Arunroj’s harrowing experience began on the evening of September 17, when she felt unexpected bites on her leg while doing dishes in her home, located just 21 miles south of Bangkok.

"I had no idea what was happening until it was too late," Arunroj recounted. As she leaned down to scoop water, the snake lunged at her, biting her instantly. “When I looked down, I saw the snake wrapping around me and couldn’t believe what was happening,” she said, her voice trembling with fear.

In a striking moment of bravery, Arunroj attempted to grab the snake by its head to free herself, but her efforts only caused the python to tighten its grip. Weighing over 45 pounds and measuring 13 feet long, the constrictor quickly overpowered her, leading her to the floor of a darkened room where she was helpless against its suffocating embrace.

For two agonizing hours, Arunroj lay trapped and called out for help, but initial responses were slow. Fortunately, a neighbor eventually heard her cries and contacted local authorities. In a dramatic rescue operation, police and animal control arrived on the scene, forcing open her door. With determination, they used a crowbar to prod and push the snake away from Arunroj, liberating her within half an hour.

"Seeing her on the ground, bound by the snake, was shocking," remarked Police Major Sergeant Anusorn Wongmalee of the Phra Samut Chedi Police Station. “The python was enormous, and it was evident she had been struggling for quite some time, as her skin had turned pale.” Arunroj was promptly rushed to the hospital for treatment of multiple bites, which included a significant one on her leg.

While pythons are not venomous, they can be highly dangerous due to their suffocating method of subduing prey. Once they wrap around a victim, they constrict, cutting off blood flow and rendering their captives helpless—a reality that Arunroj experienced firsthand.

Thailand is home to a staggering variety of wildlife, including roughly 250 species of snakes, three of which are considered pythons: Reticulated, Burmese, and Blood. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the lurking dangers that come with living in close proximity to nature. Reports indicate that in 2023 alone, approximately 12,000 people in Thailand sought medical treatment for bites from snakes and other animals.

As for the python that nearly claimed Arunroj’s life, it managed to escape following the incident, leaving many to wonder about the potential risks that still linger in the area. Arunroj’s remarkable escape and the swift actions of local authorities highlight the dangers and unpredictability of wildlife encounters, reminding us of the fragile relationship between humans and nature.