A civil defence officer has died after being bitten by a king cobra while demonstrating snake-catching techniques. The snake bit him during a demonstration at a local community event in Temerloh, Malaysia.

According to a report by the Malaysian outlet BH, the officer, Sergeant Muhammad Muazam Shah Kamarudin, was 39. He died while being treated at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital.

Colonel Che Adam A Rahman, director of the Pahang Civil Defence Force, said the body would be taken to his home village and funeral prayers held at the Kampung Bukit Kelulut mosque, after which he would be buried in the Muslim cemetery there.

Muhammad Muazam Shah was unmarried and had one elder sister.

The incident happened at about 10.50am on Saturday, 22 August, in the Taman Dewan Jaya area of Temerloh. Members of the Civil Defence Force were demonstrating snake-catching techniques as part of a nationwide government health-awareness programme when a king cobra bit him on the middle finger of his right hand.

After the bite, he left the venue and began washing his hand. Shortly afterwards he collapsed outside.

He was rushed to hospital and, in a critical condition, admitted to the "red zone" reserved for critically ill patients, where he died while under treatment.

The report drew on the Malay Mail.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.