Words Worth Noting - January 9, 2024

“Peggy Jones was mowing her lawn in Silsbee, about 100 miles northeast of Houston, on Tuesday when out of nowhere, a snake plummeted from the sky before landing on her arm and wrapping itself around her limb, she told Houston-based NBC affiliate KPRC-TV. As the snake tightened around her arm, a hawk suddenly swooped down from above and started attacking Jones as it tried to pry the serpent away from her. ‘The snake was squeezing so hard, and I was waving my arms in the air. And then, this hawk was swooping down clawing at my arm over and over,’ Jones, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News, told KPRC. ‘I just kept saying, “Help me, Jesus. Help me, Jesus”,’ she said. She said the hawk came at her at least four times before it finally managed to get hold of the snake and fly away. Photos shared with KPRC appeared to show deep cuts and bruises on Jones’ bloodied right forearm following the attack. Jones said her husband took her to the emergency room after he heard her screaming and ran to her aid.... No snake bite was found, but Jones said she did find what appeared to be snake venom on her glasses, which were damaged during the incident. The Silsbee resident said people have told her she must be the unluckiest person alive to have both a snake and hawk attack her at the same time. However, she said: ‘I feel like the luckiest person alive to have survived this!’ She also said it wasn’t her first encounter with a snake — she already survived being bitten by a serpent a few years ago, KPRC reported.”

NBC August 9, 2023