A 125-pound python nearly crushed to death an animal store owner in Newport, Ohio on Monday.
Police Chief Tom Collins said that when store owner Terry Wilkens was feeding the 20-foot python, it wrapped itself around Wilkens' head, neck and torso, Fox News reported.
While Wilkens was being crushed by the large constricting snake, a woman who he was teaching how to care for snakes called 911, according to The Cleveland Scene.
That the call came in around 11 a.m. and Lt. Gregory Ripberger and Sgt. Daron Armberg arrived at the Captive Born Reptiles store in minutes, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
The two officers stated there was blood everywhere and Wilkens was not breathing.
Ripberger grabbed the snake by the head and worked to uncurl it off Wilken's body, stated The Cincinnati Enquirer. Then the snake started to wrap around Lt. Ripberger's arm before the officers could get it back in its cage.
Police Chief Tom Collins said, "It was a horrific event."
Gary Collins, the owner of Galaxie Skate Shop, located three doors down, said the animal store opened for business two months ago, USA Today noted.
According to the San Diego Zoo, "pythons are a variety of constrictor, which kill their prey by wrapping coils of their bodies around the prey and squeezing," reported Fox News.
The animal store owner was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he is recovering. The police are working with animal control to decide whether or not to remove the snake from the animal store, according to The Courier-Journal.
