\u201cIt had no visible injuries but was covered in barnacles, which can be detrimental to them,\u201d snake catcher Summer Woolston<\/a>, who answered the concerned woman\u2019s phone call, explained to Yahoo News Australia.<\/p>\n Within a few minutes, she had organised for Justin \u2014 also a member of the Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24\/7<\/a> team \u2014 to head over and help the very venomous species<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, in a concerning turn of events, as the woman waited patiently for him to arrive, another man suddenly approached her and stated \u201che was going to chuck it back in the water\u201d.<\/p>\n The beachgoer reportedly told the woman that\u2019s what the snake catcher \u201cwas going to do anyway\u201d.<\/p>\n Despite her protests, there was not much that could be done to stop him, Summer said.<\/p>\n Do you have a story? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Wannabe hero’s’ dangerous sea snake stunt triggers criticism<\/p>\n Footage posted online shows the man grab the creature by the tail and hold it at an arm\u2019s length as he struts toward the ocean.<\/p>\n Because sea snakes only beach themselves when they are \u201csick, injured, or exhausted\u201d, tossing it back into the water is the last thing any professional would have done, Summer told Yahoo.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would make the snake\u2019s illness worse, possibly causing it to die faster. It would have to beach itself again. He also would have injured the snake with the way he held it,\u201d she said, pointing to potentially detached vertebrae.<\/p>\n \u201cWe discourage people from doing this because not only does it severely harm the snake and prevent it from getting medical treatment, it also endangers the person as sea snakes are highly venomous.\u201d<\/p>\n The reckless move also put children swimming nearby at risk.<\/p>\n Things didn\u2019t get much better when Justin arrived at the beach and tried to speak with the man, who some locals have labelled a \u201cwannabe hero\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cJustin tried to explain why what the man did was wrong and the problems it had caused, and the man refused to listen or understand,\u201d Summer said.<\/p>\n Placing the sea snake back in the water could have potentially endangered children that were swimming nearby at the time. Source: Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24\/7<\/p>\n Snake catchers refuse to let ‘disappointing’ incident slide<\/p>\n The beachgoer\u2019s frustrating reaction has prompted the team of snake catchers to warn others against pulling the same stunt.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we just let incidents like this \u2018slide under the rug\u2019 it will keep happening,\u201d Stuart McKenzie, founder of Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers, commented online.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are posting this publicly, so that people who see this post know that they should never attempt to pick up a sea snake like this and put it back in the water. Soft education isn’t always the best way!\u201d<\/p>\n Summer told Yahoo that the video clip was not shared to shame the beachgoer, but to spread awareness about sea snake safety, and talk about struggles of the job.<\/p>\n \u201cThis incident is disappointing because it wastes our valuable volunteered time, as well as causing more harm to a native animal,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s also frustrating when we give people clear instructions over and over again and they do not follow them.\u201d<\/p>\n Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Left,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/d0060700-c8e4-11f0-8d5c-9547e84fca5b.jpeg\"\/)
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