A 25-year-old man is dead after he was bitten by a rattlesnake while on a bike ride in Irvine, according to law enforcement and an Orange County Eagle Scouts troop.
Julian Hernandez, of Costa Mesa, was bitten by the snake on Feb. 1 while mountain biking at Quail Hill Trailhead, his loved ones said in an online fundraiser. After the bite, Hernandez hopped on his bike and tried to get medical care but was overcome by the reptile’s venom. He ultimately went into a coma and did not regain consciousness, according to Eagle Scouts Troop 106 in Costa Mesa.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said Hernandez died on March 4 from the animal bite.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the U.S. Of those average cases, typically five people die.
Rattlesnakes can commonly be found sunning near boulders, logs or open areas. They’re typically seen in deserts, mountains, prairies and beaches. Antivenom is needed quickly to neutralize toxins in a victim’s bloodstream after they are bitten by dangerous snakes.
For more information on rattlesnakes and what to do if you are bitten, click here.