Josh Fraser’s restful summer break was interrupted by an emergency in which quick thinking from the Collingwood ruckman helped his friend avoid serious injury - or worse.

The Collingwood vice-captain was holidaying in Whitfield, about 300 kilometres north east of Melbourne, and was relaxing in a shallow part of the King River on a hot afternoon with a group of friends, when his mate noticed something wrapped around his leg. Upon further inspection the group realised it was a deadly Tiger Snake nestled around Fraser’s mate’s leg.

Fraser’s mate managed to kick the snake away but only after being bitten in the shin, at which point Fraser rushed his injured comrade to his car and set off for a hospital in Wangaratta, about 50 kilometres away, with Fraser having dialled triple zero to organise for an ambulance to meet them as close to halfway as possible.  

“It certainly took us all by surprise to see a Tiger Snake out in the middle of the river,” Fraser told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“Once my mate had been bitten our first reaction was to make sure he got treatment, so we wrapped his leg up and set off for Wangaratta, knowing that is where the closest hospital is.

“My mate was in a bit of shock but thankfully received treatment quickly. He only had to spend the night in hospital and is ok.”