Man Allows 200 Venomous Snakes to Bite Him for Science

Tim Friede, a 58-year-old American, allowed venomous snakes to bite him over 200 times in an effort to contribute to the development of a universal antivenom.

Without scientific training, Friede housed approximately 60 snakes in his basement, including some of the world's most dangerous species. He started with injections of small amounts of venom and then allowed the snakes to bite him directly.

The process was repeatedly near-fatal, with Friede falling into a coma after cobra bites in 2001. Despite the backlash, he continued the experiments.

In 2019, the biotechnology company Centivax began studying Friede's blood, isolating antibodies that can neutralize toxins from 19 different species of elapids. The first tests of the new serum are expected soon in animals in Australia.

Each year, approximately 138,000 people die from snake bites. Friede stated that he made his sacrifices "for humanity."