Walnut Hill Woman Recovering After Being Bitten By Rattlesnake

September 6, 2014

For an update to this story, click here.

A North Escambia woman was airlifted to a Pensacola Hospital after being bit by a rattlesnake Saturday morning.

Sandy Marsh, 49, was conscious and alert before being loaded into a LifeFlight helicopter and flown to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.

Marsh was bitten on her hand by a pygmy rattlesnake, commonly called a Florida ground rattlesnake, at her home in the 4000 block of Highway 97A outside Walnut Hill. She was able to kill the snake, officials said, for species confirmation.

Marsh said late Saturday that she she was doing well and about to undergo her third round of anti-venom.

The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call.

Editor’s note: Marsh was originally reported to be 50-years old based upon information provided by officials at the scene, but she is actually only 49-years old.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

23 Responses to “Walnut Hill Woman Recovering After Being Bitten By Rattlesnake”

  1. Sandy Marsh on September 12th, 2014 7:50 am

    Thanks everyone, I’m doing great. Just itching from antivenom but benidryl is working.. Didn’t even miss a day of work. I thank everyone for my prayers but now someone else needs some .. A man from my same area , we must be going have cold winter the snakes are feeding up. Our hummingbirds are feeding up to had about 8 fighting over one feeder this morning .

  2. John Bray on September 10th, 2014 12:55 pm

    Sandy,

    Sounds like you faired much better than I did with my encounter with one on 8.29.80. The end of my middle finger on my right hand is noticeably shorter than on my left. I’m glad you didn’t experience what I did.

  3. Julia Cates on September 9th, 2014 11:17 am

    Sandy its Jane Watts daughter…..so thankful you’re ok! Your ability to stay calm is amazing….I would have freaked !!!

  4. Kevin M on September 8th, 2014 12:24 pm

    Good grief Sandy!!!

  5. Frank on September 8th, 2014 9:16 am

    Get well soon our prayers are with you. God Bless

  6. carol on September 8th, 2014 9:09 am

    Just curious, how did you come to be bitten?

  7. Sandy marsh on September 7th, 2014 6:15 pm

    Really idlike to say I’m in pain cause everyone says it’s painfull. But I’m not just a throbbing about 4 inches fron site of bite an feeling like my arm was asleep an tingling. My IV arm is in worst shape. Bet I’ve gave 10 vials of blood. Everyone has been great here at Baptist the ER was wonderful I was known as the snake women everyone wanted to see snake, an they played joke on each other throwing pretend snakes on each other. You could tell they love there work environment …

  8. shannon mack on September 7th, 2014 1:55 pm

    Prayers lifted hope you get better soon.

  9. Angelina on September 7th, 2014 10:13 am

    Thoughts and Prayers are with you and your Family…Smile~Ur~Beautiful. .

  10. SFC on September 7th, 2014 9:18 am

    Sandy, I am glad you are OK. I have a question for you, did you immediately feel the effects of the venom?

    Years ago when we first moved to Florida, my wife almost picked up a pygmy rattlesnake, not knowing the danger of it. Once again, I hope you feel better.

  11. James Manning on September 7th, 2014 8:40 am

    Glad you are fine.

  12. :) on September 7th, 2014 6:56 am

    Thanks for the update Sandy! Hope you heal quickly!

  13. Sandy marsh on September 6th, 2014 11:40 pm

    I’m doing better my hand is still swollen pretty bad will have my third round of antivenom… I always look for snakes we have them a lot, but haven’t seen the pigmys for 2 years just rat snakes or water moccasin , this one was little an just didn’t see it .. And I had a great laugh as the fifty year old women .. But it really made me laugh an get through this I will be fifty Christmas , but not till then. Hehe

  14. William on September 6th, 2014 8:00 pm

    >>>Sandy wanted me to let everybody know that she is only 49 NOT 50!!!

    OK, we’ll update it. We get the info like that from officials on scene, and sometimes the age will get rounded up/down.

  15. Puddin on September 6th, 2014 7:13 pm

    Oh boy, glad you got the little bugger. Hope you are ok.

  16. Concerned on September 6th, 2014 6:30 pm

    Hope Sandy is doing ok! Does anybody know a recent update on her condition?

  17. Willene Bryan on September 6th, 2014 4:04 pm

    My husband killed one today on Killam Rd

  18. Melissa Portis on September 6th, 2014 3:51 pm

    Sandy wanted me to let everybody know that she is only 49 NOT 50!!!
    But in all seriousness she is ok. They started giving her the anti venom and it made her pretty nauseous. Please continue to pray.

  19. Jaime on September 6th, 2014 2:29 pm

    Prayers being sent your way Ms. Sandy…so glad you were able to kill it, so they would be able to treat you accordingly…

  20. troubled on September 6th, 2014 2:15 pm

    Sorry she got bit! Hope she is alright! We have had several different types of snakes in yard and shop, if they run from me I leave alone, but if they don’t leave Me or husband kills. We live in the woods and know there are animals out here , so we share as much as we can, BUT I DRAW THE LINE AT SNAKES!!
    me just saying

  21. Cleo on September 6th, 2014 2:12 pm

    Sandy…wishing you the best!

  22. Anne on September 6th, 2014 1:57 pm

    She’s my hero because she was able to kill the snake. I’ve met up with rattlesnakes and copper heads and didn’t stick around to kill either. I know we ran in opposite directions.

  23. Duerwood Willis on September 6th, 2014 1:48 pm

    Prayers with you, I hope you are OK and have no type of long-term effects from this.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive