Cherokee County man survives rattlesnake bite

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — Cherokee County man survives rattlesnake bite
 
A Cherokee County man was bitten by a rattlesnake during a hunting trip, but he and his 9-year-old son fought back.

Shane Newton, 43, is recovering at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital after the snake bit him in the leg Sunday afternoon. Newton was hunting with his son near the Lake Arrowhead Golf Course, where he works in Waleska, when it happened.

"I'm on some private property on the mountain, and I've been bitten by a rattlesnake," Newton told a 911 dispatcher. "It's a pretty big one and I'm shaking pretty bad."

During the nearly hour-long call for help, his health began to deteriorate.

"I'm starting to shake pretty bad. I can't talk real well," Newton said. 

Newton told the dispatcher that he shot the snake but later, his son said the snake was moving again and heading toward them.

"I'm about to shoot," his son, Grant, told the dispatcher.

Then, multiple shots can be heard on the call.

"I think he's dead now," the boy said.

The child followed the dispatcher's directions to keep his dad alert and to keep him talking. Members at the Lake Arrowhead Golf Club described the rescue to Channel 2's Shae Rozzi.

"We were coming on the back nine and saw the helicopter come in," Jim Lindenmayer said.

Dave Olsen, another member, added, "Everyone was just shocked. Our prayers are with him."

Olsen said he has seen a couple of snakes near the golf course before. He points out that it's located in the foothills of the mountains and expects to see them there.

Lindenmayer gives Newton's son credit for staying calm and making sure his dad was OK.

"His son did a great job calling in, and they did a great job responding," he said. 

A friend who is following Newton's progress on a private Facebook page told Rozzi that Newton is doing better and gave a thumbs up from his hospital bed Wednesday.

WSBTV