‘Princess Bride’ actor shares photo of rattlesnake bite as he recovers in California
“The Princess Bride” actor Cary Elwes said he wasn’t bitten by a large rat-like creature when explaining a photo of his swollen finger April 25 on Twitter.
“Bit not by a ROUS but a rattlesnake,” he said in the tweet.
In the 1987 movie, Elwes (acting as Westley) is attacked by a rat-like creature called Rodents of Unusual Size.
The creature lunges on Elwes and bites his arm, so he made sure to tell his followers his most recent bite was not from a ROUS.
The actor thanked the staff at Los Angeles County Fire Department, Malibu Urgent Care and UCLA Health for treating his rattlesnake bite, he said on Twitter.
“Am recovering well thanks to all these wonderful folks,” he said.
Firefighters had responded to a rattlesnake bite at 2:53 p.m. on April 23 at Topanga State Beach, The Los Angeles Times reported. The patient, who had been bitten on the finger, was airlifted to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, the news outlet reported. The patient was not named.
It’s rattlesnake season in California
Rattlesnake season in Southern California runs from March until October, according to a news release from California State University San Marcos.
During this period, rattlesnakes leave hibernation. It’s more common to spot a rattler than to be bitten by one, the release said.
If you see a rattlesnake in the open, “calmly walk away” and do not not touch or pick it up.
How to avoid a rattlesnake bite?
Often times, a person is bit on their ankle, hands or feet, the release states. Use common sense to avoid a rattlesnake bite, including:
- Don’t go barefoot in unpaved terrain.
- Stay on a path, and avoid walking into tall grasses and heavy underbrush.
- Watch where you put your hands when climbing.
- Don’t pick up snakes.
- Give snakes the right of way.
This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 1:45 PM.
