The Man Who Let Deadly Snakes Bite Him 200 Times
Disclaimer: This article describes dangerous activities carried out by trained individuals. Do not attempt to replicate these actions under any circumstances.
Okay, I’ve done some weird deep dives on the internet, but nothing prepared me for the story of Tim Friede, the guy who’s basically turned himself into a human science experiment, by voluntarily letting deadly snakes bite him.
Not once or twice. Over 200 times. This man let snakes bite him over 200 times. Okay, sorry for repeating myself, but what in the name of all things holy?!
Not only is this guy still alive, but his blood might actually be the key to creating a universal antivenom for all snake bites worldwide.
Yeah, it sounds like a Netflix doc waiting to happen, and I’m ready to binge it. But in the meantime, the science behind it is absolutely fascinating stuff worth looking into.
Grab a coffee (or a copper mug of water if you read my last article), this one’s a ride.
Wait… he wanted to be bitten?
I’m going to start here because, honestly, same question.
Most of us see a snake and immediately back away like it’s radioactive slime with a hankering for human flesh. But for Tim, snakes aren’t scary, they’re a calling for something higher.
After seeing how many people die every year from snakebites (the World Health Organization estimates 5.4 million snakebites annually, with 138,000 deaths), he wondered if there was another way. What if a person could build immunity?
Instead of waiting for slow, species-specific antivenoms that may or may not be available in time he wondered what if your own immune system could fight back?
So he started small by injecting himself with microscopic doses of snake venom, increasing gradually. Then came the live bites.
Fast-forward 20 years, and Tim’s been bitten by everything from cobras to black mambas to taipans. His immune system is basically a Marvel origin story at this point.
(Also…the dude keeps cobras in his garage.)
The science behind his immunity
Okay, let’s get nerdy for a sec, because why else are you here?
When you expose your body to a small amount of a toxin, your immune system goes, “oh no you don’t you little biotch” and starts producing antibodies to neutralize it. Do that over and over again and your immune system gets better and faster at responding. It’s sort of like, yeah I know what this shit is.
That’s what Tim’s been doing. Every bite and every injection has been with the intention of training his immune system like it’s prepping for the snakebite Olympics.
And here’s where it gets even cooler, his blood has been tested in labs and shown to neutralize snake venom in test tubes.
This means his immune system doesn’t just fight one snake’s venom, it fights multiple kinds of venom. Scientists call this polyclonal immunity and it’s something current antivenoms can’t replicate.
It reminds me of that story I covered about the guy who lived 105 days with an artificial titanium heart. People turning themselves into science experiments, deep respect, but not for me.
But is it safe? Spoiler: not really.
Look, this isn’t a DIY immunity plan. I would NOT recommend you go out there and start to replicate this at home.
Tim’s had more than a few close calls. He’s experienced paralysis, breathing issues, massive swelling, with some bites almost killing him.
But somehow, he’s still here, still standing, and still letting snakes bite him for science.
Honestly, it’s both inspiring and completely terrifying. Also makes me wonder if he’s got some kind of weird addiction, kink, or psychological issue behind it. Not that I’m judging him, who am I to judge Mr. Snake-Venom-Man? Just a Sommelier turned entrepreneur from Philly over here.
Doctors have warned that what he’s doing is extremely risky, and that his body’s ability to survive these bites isn’t something most people could replicate. Genetics, immune system quirks, or sheer luck? Probably a mix of all three.
Why antivenom is still a global problem
Antivenom hasn’t really changed much in 100 years.
It’s still made by injecting animals (usually horses) with venom, harvesting their antibodies, purifying it, and packaging it up for human use.
But each antivenom is species-specific. Got bitten by a rattlesnake? Sorry, that antivenom won’t work for a cobra, or a black mamba, or a fer-de-lance, or another one I don’t know the name of. You get the point. Not to mention a lot of people out there aren’t snake experts and couldn’t tell you what snake bit them more than the color of it.
And because of how it’s made, antivenom is expensive, in short supply, and not always accessible in the regions that need it most. (Most things seem to be expensive these days, check out how $2 saline bags are being sold for $700 here!)
Imagine getting bitten in a rural area, hours from a hospital, only to find out the hospital doesn’t stock the right antivenom. Terrifying. I hope you and me never ever ever find ourselves in that kind of situation.
That’s why a universal antivenom would be such a game-changer. Something that neutralizes a broad range of snake venoms would be the total holy grail of toxinology.
And Tim’s blood might be pointing scientists toward that possibility. So thank you, Tim.
Researchers are paying attention
This isn’t just one guy shouting into the void (unlike me with my 800 blog posts and 900 readers per day). Scientists have been analyzing Tim’s blood for a little while now to study his antibodies and see if they can replicate them in the lab.
Imagine being able to synthesize those antibodies, mass-produce them, and make a safer, faster, more widely available antivenom.
We’re still a long way off, but the fact that it’s even possible because of one man is pretty incredible.
Look, most of us aren’t planning to keep cobras in our garage, but if you hike, camp, or live anywhere near venomous snakes? It’s still worth knowing the risks.
Snakebites can be life-threatening even with medical help and every minute counts.
That’s why having a snakebite first aid kit in your backpack or glovebox isn’t a bad idea. I found this compact snakebite kit on Amazon that’s great for hikers, small, lightweight, and comes with a suction pump and bandages (obviously, only if you live where this is applicable).
It’s not a replacement for professional care, but in an emergency? Better than nothing.
Is he crazy… or brilliant?
Eh, a dash of this, a dash of that.
What Tim’s done is extreme, risky, and not something anyone should copy, but it also shows what’s possible when curiosity meets sheer determination and a little bit of insanity.
He wasn’t a scientist, he wasn’t funded by a lab, he was just a guy who loved snakes and wanted to make a difference.
And if his self-experimentation leads to a breakthrough that saves lives? He’ll have earned his place in the history books for it all.
(Preferably one with fewer emergency room visits, but hey.)
I take this as a nice little reminder that sometimes, progress doesn’t come from perfect labs or billion-dollar budgets. Sometimes it comes from one determined person willing to risk everything…in a garage full of cobras.
