Geplaatst:13 nov 2006 08:38 - Gewijzigd: 13 nov 2006 08:38

Woman fatally bitten by snake in church Kentucky

LONDON - In London (Kentucky, USA), a woman who was bitten by a snake at a church that neighbors say practices serpent handling died of her wounds hours later, a newspaper reported.

Audiostream:

Linda Long, 48, was bitten Sunday at East London Holiness Church, where neighbors said the reptiles are handled as part of religious services, The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Tuesday. Long died at University of Kentucky Medical Center about four hours after being bitten, authorities told the newspaper.

„She said she was bitten by a snake at her church”, said Lt. Ed Sizemore of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.

Handling reptiles as part of religious services is illegal in Kentucky. Snake handling is a misdemeanor and punishable by a $50 to $100 fine.

Police said they had not received any reports of snake handling at the church.

Snake handling is based on a passage in the Bible that says a sign of a true believer is the power to „take up serpents” without being harmed.

Church officials could not be reached for comment. (World)