A hunt is on to find a cobra that bit an 18-year-old man in Santa Barbara, Pangasinan.

Jerome De Guzman, the victim, spent three days in the hospital after a cobra bit him in the thigh in Barangay Matic-Matic. He was administered antivenom.

He said he did not notice that he had stepped on the snake until it coiled around his leg and bit him. He lost consciousness about 20 to 30 mins later. 

"Naapakan ko ‘yung ahas [at] pumulupot sa binti ko, at tinuklaw ako. Hindi ko namalayan na ahas pala ang nakakagat sa akin, siguro nasa 20 [to] 30 minutes bigla na lang ako nawalan ng malay," De Guzman said.

According to De Guzman’s sister, Marisol Fernandez, his brother was already unconscious when rushed to the hospital and his body was starting to darken. 

"Sabi ng doktor, observation lang, hindi na siya nakakitaan ng may kamandag kasi naturukan agad siya ng antivenom, sabi ko, ‘Lord, isang hiling lang. kahit ito lang. kahit wala ako ibang mahiling basta buhay ang kapatid [ko]’," Fernandez said.

Snake shedding, measuring almost two feet, was found in the area where De Guzman was bit.

As of this writing, the snake hunt continues in areas where cobras are likely to hide.

De Guzman was lucky to survive the bite but health authorities said that cobra venom can be fatal within minutes.

They reminded snake bite victims:

"Iwasan na maglagay ng rubbing alcohol o mga other chemical na i-apply doon sa bite. Mainam na ilipat na agad ang pasyente sa pinakamalapit na ospital," Dr. Anna De Guzman, Pangasinan Provincial Health Officer, said.