Hiker dies after venomous bite from 'most dangerous' snake in Tennessee

GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A hiker died after he was bitten by a venomous snake in a Tennessee state park last week.

First responders were called to Savage Gulf State Park, in Grundy County, at Friday around 12:30 p.m. The hiker was about a half-mile down a trail when medics located him and began CPR, both manually and with a compression machine, according to the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency.

The hiker was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

A representative for Grundy County's Emergency Management Agency identified the snake that bit the hiker as a probable Timber rattlesnake, an extremely venomous species found in the eastern United States.

"The Timber Rattlesnake is the largest, and the most dangerous, of the 4 venomous snakes in Tennessee; it occurs across the state," Tennessee's Wildlife Resources Agency writes of the species on its website.

Witnesses who spoke with responders said they saw the hiker pick up the snake before he was bitten, the representative told Nexstar in an email.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 7,000 and 8,000 people in the U.S. are bitten by venomous snakes annually, with about five dying each year.

Common venomous snakes in the U.S. include rattlesnakes, copperhead snakes, water moccasins and coral snakes, according to the CDC.

The Grundy County Emergency Management Agency, in its email, reiterated that hikers or those recreating in areas with potentially dangerous wildlife to bring along first-aid kits or emergency supplies.

"If you encounter a snake simply remain calm and do not attempt to handle it," the Emergency Management Agency wrote. "If bitten seek immediate medical attention."

Savage Gulf is maintained and operated by Tennessee State Parks and sits within the South Cumberland State Park. It spans nearly 16,000 acres in Grundy and Sequatchie counties. Savage Gulf boasts attractions ranging from waterfalls to wildflowers along with sandstone cliffs and picturesque gorges. Visitors can hike, swim, rock climb and camp within the park.