Macksville: Sleeping boy, 6, attacked by 3m python in Australia after snake slithered into bed

A six-year-old boy was saved from a giant python that bit him in the head after his mother heard his screams for help. Tyler was attacked by the snake in his bedroom in Macksville, New South Wales, Australia, where it is believed the 3m-long reptile bit the boy first on the hand before going for his face.

His mother, Tamara Thurgood, wrote on her Facebook page: "Okay so here it is.... Thursday night at about 11:30 I woke to hear Tyler's painful scream. I jumped out of bed and went to Tyler to find a big effing snake wrapped around the bed head, I grabbed his arm to pull him off the bed but he was stuck. I rolled him and then pulled, he had been bitten on the face and on the finger."

It is believed two male relatives came round to the property following the attack and killed the snake, with one posing for a picture next to it and putting it on Facebook, where it was then shared thousands of times alongside a picture of Tyler's snakebite.

Thurgood added: "I said I won't be happy until the snake is dead!!! I'd say both boys were scared but stayed there to make sure they got the bastard that attacked my son."

Although pythons have been known to eat humans, they are not believed to be part of their usual prey so instances such as this are rare. Tyler is believed to be doing well following the attack.