This Man's Selfie with a Rattlesnake Cost Him $150,000...and a World of Pain

It is my belief that people are forever destined to be stupid, and the quest for dangerous selfies is a prime example.

Earlier this month, Todd Fassler of San Diego, CA thought it would be great to get a selfie with a rattlesnake. Claiming to have previously housed a pet rattlesnake of his own, he must have figured it was perfectly normal. However, the rattlesnake wasn’t really feeling it that particular day and struck Fassler, landing him in the hospital. But, it wasn’t until after he was discharged that the real surprise happened – a hospital bill of over $150,000 for his five-day visit.

“My whole body was shaking and gyrating,” Fassler says. “He literally paralyzed my whole body.” Well, that’s the point, isn’t it?

Rattlesnakes aren’t necessarily as dangerous as most people automatically assume. The lethality depends on a variety of factors, such as species, the maturity of the snake, the amount of venom injected into its victim, etc. While more deadly than their cousins, the copperhead, death-by-rattlesnake isn’t very common. Sometimes, a simple antibiotic treatment is all that’s required after a bite, but other times it can be much more severe. This was apparently the case for Fassler.

Anti-venom is only used in extreme cases, largely due to it’s incredibly high cost. Mr. Fassler’s envenomation depleted two hospitals of their entire supply. Yeah. Add that to your already-expensive ER visit.

The total cost for his little stunt was $153,161.25…and national ridicule.

So, even if you live to see another day and share that incredible image on Facebook, sometimes it’s still just not worth it in the end.

[via KGTV Channel 10 News]

Chen

I guess he learned his leason.
Ralph Hightower

Poisonous snake, Selfie, Priceless. MasterCard.
- echomrg
  
  good luck convincing mastercard to authorize a 150.000$ transaction ;)
  - Ralph Hightower
    
    Irony sometimes doesn’t translate well in text on the web. Puns usually do.
Andrew

But did he take the picture with the snake on a train track? That is the question. ?
Robert0

What should be held up for ridicule, outrage, and scorn is the medical bill. Pure blackmail, legalized extortion. Only in America is there such an unnatural consequence for admitted stupidity.
- Cesar Sales
  
  Thing is – we all paid for that. He likely had insurance which just raises the rates for the rest of us.
  - Robert0
    
    It wouldn’t, if hospitals were held to reasonable charges. It’s an old story, a national scandal, the most cowardly and heartless breed of extortion, and it’s all ours, America.
Simon Hunter

Selfies. As dangerous as it gets…
jason bourne

Stupid is as stupid does.
Cesar Sales

So the DIY in this is …. bring your own antivenom?
Claiton Martins-Ferreira

This story drew national attention after posted on facebook in Brazil. Simply because the account to a treatment such as this one is zero. Any Brazilian who is bitten by a snake or other venomous animal has guaranteed free health care. This served to stop people from complaining of health services offered here … lol