Snake found in Hastings ambulance

Hastings Patient Transport Service crew Karen Stephens and Derek Morley were dropping off a patient in Battle when they discovered the reptile on the outside of their vehicle.

The snake then slithered into the ambulance and the crew had to drive back to base to try and coax the creature out of the engine.

“We thought it was a joke snake at first but then saw it slither down and into the bumper area so we knew it was real,” Karen said.

“We tried to hook it out but it went into the engine area so after discussing it with control, we went back to our base at Hastings Make Ready Centre.”

SECAmb’s fleet staff had to remove a wheel and side panel from the ambulance before finding the non-dangerous corn snake.

Centre manager Nycki Bishop said: “Fortunately one of the staff knew a bit about snakes and using ice packs on the outside of the vehicle forced it to move up to where we could reach it.

“The RSPCA came and collected it and they are going to try and find the owner as it was probably a pet.”

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