An Australian woman’s harrowing experience with a venomous snake bite while trail running in Albania has gone viral, shedding light on the importance of emergency preparedness during outdoor adventures. Amy Lecons, a resident of Wānaka, New Zealand, encountered a European nose-horned viper during a trail run on June 21, just three days after arriving in the scenic region of Valbonë.
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Lecons detailed her terrifying ordeal on TikTok, where her rescue video has amassed over 21 million views. In an interview with Truth Times, she explained that despite having previously encountered snakes in both Greece and Australia, she felt secure enough to let her guard down during this excursion. As she ran down the trail, she encountered a large group of hikers, which contributed to her belief that any nearby reptiles had fled.
“I was coming down and around a corner when I was bitten by a snake,” Lecons recounted. She felt an instantaneous sharp pain in her left Achilles tendon, quickly realising she had been bitten. Despite feeling ill-prepared, as she had not brought her usual mini first aid kit, Lecons carried essential items including her phone, running poles, and water.
After documenting the snake for identification, she promptly attempted to call emergency services, but the initial effort resulted in frustration. “My call lasted less than one minute before I was hung up on because they didn’t understand English,” Lecons shared, emphasising her sense of isolation and fear. “I truly didn’t want to die by myself on a trail…”
Feeling increasingly helpless, she reached out to her father, Dr Robert Lecons, who resides in Australia. He guided her on immobilising her leg and lowering her heart rate while she shared her precise location via the What3Words app. As her father worked on contacting local emergency services, Lecons also called the owner of Traveler Hostel in Shkodër, where she had stayed recently.
In a turn of fate, this hostel owner was instrumental in connecting Valbonë Summer Clinic with Lecons during her crisis. It took around 25 minutes for an ambulance to be dispatched after her snake bite, and due to the remote location, it took another 30 minutes for responders to reach her. Consequently, it would be an hour before she arrived at the hospital in Bajram Curri, where antivenom was administered. According to the World Health Organization, antivenoms are vital in treating snake bites, as they assist the immune system in combating the effects of venom.
In a video recorded while awaiting rescue, Lecons highlighted how her foot and ankle became increasingly swollen, describing the pain she experienced. “They kept saying if I move, my whole leg will go blue,” she narrated, expressing the gravity of her situation. Once released from the hospital after two nights, Lecons returned to her guesthouse to continue her recovery, expressing gratitude to the medical staff and local helpers for their swift actions.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Lecons chose to share her story on social media as a means to raise awareness about the challenges of contacting emergency services in foreign countries. She also urged fellow adventurers to consider the risks of undertaking solo hikes without adequate communication means. “Upon reflection, I have realised that I should be better prepared with a satellite communication device,” she noted.
Lecons highlighted the lessons learned from her experience, acknowledging that she had become complacent in her preparations while hiking in Europe compared to her practices in New Zealand. “I mustn’t let fear control my life, especially when trail running is a large part of who I am and what makes me happy,” she concluded, demonstrating her determination to remain adventurous while advocating for greater awareness regarding outdoor safety.
The story of Amy Lecons serves as a poignant reminder of the potential dangers encountered while hiking in remote areas and the necessity for proper emergency planning, especially for those exploring unfamiliar terrains alone.