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Posted: 2024-11-28 09:35:50

Queensland teenager Beau Horan is being remembered as a "kind and gentle boy" who loved gel blasters and playing video games with his friends.

The 16-year-old died in a Brisbane hospital after being bitten by a snake at his Central Queensland home on Monday.

Stepsister Monique Eddy said Beau had been in the backyard of his family home at Wurdong Heights, a rural suburb near Gladstone, when he came inside saying he felt unwell and collapsed, sustaining a head injury in the fall.

Ms Eddy said paramedics were called to the property and found a snakebite at the back of his foot.

Three teenage children looking at camera

Beau Horan with his siblings Jodie and Haylee. (Supplied)

He was rushed to Gladstone Hospital in a life-threatening condition and was later flown by rescue helicopter to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital where he was put on life support.

Ms Eddy said he passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Authorities have not confirmed what type of snake bit the teenager.

She said the "freak accident" was "devastating for the family".

"He was a really gentle, kind young boy. He loved playing games online with his friends," she said.

"His injuries were pretty severe. Unfortunately because it wasn't treated within the first minutes the venom had travelled through the body."

An online fundraiser has been set up to assist the family.

"It's overwhelming and really nice to take some off that stress off [Beau's mother] Bek to be able to give Beau a beautiful send off," Ms Eddy said.

Mum with three teenage children looking and smiling at camera

Beau Horan with his siblings Jodie and Haylee, and mum Bek.  (Supplied)

Eastern browns are the only snake species in the world that can kill a person in less than 15 minutes, but fatal bites are rare.

David Voss, a snake catcher in the Gladstone region, said bites from eastern brown snakes were often painless leaving victims unaware they had been struck.

"My recommendation is if you come across a snake, or there is a possibility you've been bitten, you need to use a [compression bandage] and immobilise that area, and call triple-0 straight away," he said.

Older man looking and smiling with a snake in his hand in a laundry

Gladstone region snake catcher David Voss said when out and about where snakes are wear solid clothing on your legs. (Supplied: David Voss)

Snakes tend to be more active during the warmer months between September to April.

Mr Voss said it had already been a busy season.

"At the moment I'm catching a lot of eastern browns. There's quite a few of those guys around," he said.

"There's lots of pythons, tree snakes and the like as well."

He warned the public to be wary when outdoors that snakes are out and about.

"Wear enclosed shoes, even jeans. If you're bush walking, a solid clothing on your legs," Mr Voss said.

"If you do come across a snake don't try to move it yourself.

"Just leave it be. Stand still and it will move on eventually.

"Have a first aid kit at home and a first aid kit in your vehicle, just in case."

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