Being Spooked by a Slippery Surprise
Imagine going about your regular grocery run, picking up broccoli, only to discover something that sends chills down your spine. That’s exactly what happened to Neville Linton, a 63-year-old man from the West Midlands of England. When he unzipped the bag of broccoli he bought from Aldi, he found himself face to face with a snake! As an ophidiophobic (someone with a fear of snakes), this was Linton’s worst nightmare come true.
A Tale of Courage and Quick Thinking
Thankfully, Linton’s relatives rushed to his aid and managed to take control of the snake before any harm was done. Linton’s sister, Ann-Marie Tenkanemin, immediately recognized the creature as a snake and together they safely transported it back to Aldi. Linton expressed his relief, stating, “It’s lucky I didn’t just leave the broccoli out in the kitchen, or it would have been loose in the house. That would have been a huge risk for us because we have two vulnerable people living here.”
The Impact on Fear and Family
Linton’s experience was not just alarming; it had the potential to be even more dangerous for his disabled son and mother-in-law. He believes that the compensation he received from Aldi was insufficient considering the potential risk to his family’s well-being. He expressed his concerns, stating, “The implications for us if it had [gotten] out in the house are huge. Plus, I’m phobic of snakes, so there’s the emotional impact of that, too.”
An Unusual Reptilian Encounter
So, what kind of snake was it exactly? According to expert opinions, it was initially identified as a juvenile ladder snake by a Dudley Zoo expert. However, herpetologist Dr. Steven J. R. Allain disagrees and asserts that it is, in fact, a harmless fish-eating species called a viperine water snake (Natrix maura). These snakes are found in southwestern Europe and northern Africa.
Demystifying the Fear
Here’s the reassuring news: neither the ladder snake nor the viperine water snake pose a significant threat to humans. They are not venomous and tend to avoid human interaction. In fact, they’re more interested in feasting on insects, birds, and even rodents. Dr. Allain hopes to dispel the fear surrounding these creatures, emphasizing their non-aggressive nature and their role in maintaining ecosystems.
A couple found their wedding ring, which had been lost for almost 10 years, thanks to Hurricane Milton. The storm turned up the ring after all that time.
A wedding band (stock image). Photo: Getty
Amid the destruction from Hurricane Milton in Florida, a couple found something special. Laura and Basil Yorio from Palm Bay had to leave their home before the hurricane hit on Wednesday, Oct. 9, as a Category 3 storm. When they returned, Laura was surprised to find Basil’s wedding ring in their yard. He had lost it nine years earlier during a construction project.
“It was just sitting there, a little buried in the dirt,” Laura said, thinking at first it was a key ring
The jewelry Laura found sticking out of the ground turned out to be Basil’s missing wedding ring, which had “disappeared” during a construction project nine years ago. Despite years of lawn care and searching, the ring never showed up—until now.
Laura shared a photo of the silver ring with WOFL, showing how it was hidden in the grass. “We’ve been over this yard a thousand times in the last nine years,” she said. “We even have a landscaper who comes every week. Still, nothing.”
Laura believes the hurricane caused the ring to finally surface. She added, “We know a lot of people are dealing with really tough things right now, so I feel a little guilty being happy, but it was something good that came out of all this.”
How to Help the Victims of Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton hit near Siesta Key on Wednesday, causing major damage. As of Friday, at least 16 people have died, according to CNN and NBC News. Five of those deaths happened because of a tornado in St. Lucie County. In total, 19 tornadoes hit the state as the hurricane moved inland, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
About 1.5 million people in Florida still don’t have power as of Saturday, Oct. 12, according to PowerOutage.us.
Since the hurricane, hundreds of people have been rescued, including 135 from a senior living home in Tampa, 500 from an apartment building in Clearwater, and more from a Holiday Inn in Plant City.
This comes after Hurricane Helene, which struck the Big Bend region on Sept. 26, killing over 200 people.
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