These two kids, skipping along a dirt track hand in hand, had no idea they were centimetres from death. Under blue skies near their home in Eskdale, north east Victoria, the brother and sister were playing together. Alanna, their adoring mother, took a photo of the wandering pair from behind in order to preserve the memory. A deadly eastern brown snake lurked in the undergrowth, just to the right of her son’s foot.

The species is responsible for 41% of snake deaths in Australia, and can cause cardiac arrest just minutes after biting. It is the world’s second most venomous snake, after the inland taipan of central east Australia. After Alanna’s father Mark sent him the disturbing photo, snakecatcher Barry Goldsmith shared it. ‘Mark sent me this photo his daughter Alanna took of her kids as they skipped down a track on his Mitta Mitta river property,’ he wrote.

‘No one noticed the large eastern brown snake until they saw the photos later.’ ‘The snake saw them coming and watched as they walked by unnoticed. ‘It just goes to show that snakes are not aggressive and only require respect.’ That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?’

‘Thank you Mark, for sending me the picture and for your understanding and compassion for the animals with whom we share our beautiful country,’ he added. ‘Close your eyes and zoom in on the ground to the right of the kids. ‘Please be cautious, take precautions, and be gentle with snakes this summer.’