Texas woman recounts horror of being attacked by snake and hawk at same time
Peggy Jones was mowing lawn when bizarre experience unfolded
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Texas woman has recalled the horror of being attacked by a snake and a hawk at the same time as she moved the lawn.
Peggy Jones was riding the mower at the property in Silsbee when out of nowhere a snake fell from the sky and landed on her arm.
The snake, which measured more than four feet in length, then grabbed hold of the stunned grandmother-of-four’s right arm and would not let go.
“I immediately began thrusting my arm, trying to knock the snake off,” she told CNN. “And as I was thrusting my arm, the snake just wrapped around my arm – and he started striking at my face.”
But within seconds a hawk which had seemingly just dropped its dinner on her attacked her to try and reclaim the snake.
The 64-year-old says that the hawk made four attempts to grab the snake from off her arm, becoming more aggressive at each attempt before finally grabbing it and flying away.
“I’m screaming during this whole time, ‘Help me, Jesus! Please, help me, Jesus!’” she told The Washington Post.
Ms Jones’s husband Wendell, who was also mowing the property, rushed to her when he heard the screaming and immediately took her to hospital for treatment.
Doctors assured her that the puncture marks on her arm were not snake bites but stab wounds made by the hawk’s talons as it tried to retrieve its prey.
She told the newspaper that despite her wounds healing, the incident has left her badly shaken.
“Everything is off,” she said and added that she does not think “it’ll ever be totally normal again. I think I’ll always have some fears.”
“It’s probably been the most terrifying thing that’s ever happened in my life.”
And she added: “It was a very bizarre, harrowing experience. And I just thank God I’m alive to still tell about it.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments