David and Sue Locke’s Sunday morning in sleepy Knysna was shattered when they rushed into their kitchen to investigate the cause of a mighty disturbance involving their three Jack Russells. To their horror they found one dog, Pirate, locked in a mortal battle with what they later learned was a 1.5-metrelong male boomslang. The battle went on for about 20 minutes which left the snake dead and Pirate bitten. Boomslang venom is haemo-toxic, and although slow-acting, it’s deadly if not treated within about 48 hours – and the only available antivenom to be found was in Johannesburg. Friend Ray Exton organised, via his contacts at Bidfreight, to rush the anti-venom to George – but the shipment just missed the last SAA flight to George, and an agonising 18-hour wait ensued. The anti-venom finally arrived at George Airport, and within one hour of administering it, Pirate stopped haemorrhaging and eventually made a full recovery. The Lockes are full of praise for Bidair Freight’s service – for which Bidair charged not a cent.
A snake, a Jack Russel – and a life-saving airfreight response …
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