@_lecons: On Sunday 21 June at 10:19 I was trail running near Valbonë in Albania when I was bitten by a European Nose-horned Viper. Here is a summarised snapshot of the events that followed with time stamps. I’ve been living in New Zealand the last 3.5 years so my knowledge of snakebite first aid in the moment was slightly hazy. I instantly filmed the snake for identification purposes, sat down on the trail and dialled 112 as this was the only line that I was able to call with my eSIM. Having no success with the operator and after they hung up on me, I called my dad in Australia who asked for my What3Words to give to Australian emergency services for Interpol. I then called a hostel owner in Shkodër who was able to assist by putting me in contact with local emergency authorities on WhatsApp (thank goodness for cell service) who gained my current location and dispatched an ambulance. In the meantime, I initially removed my socks and singlet to create a makeshift tourniquet higher up on the limb but realised this was incorrect action and later removed this to provide compression around the area of the bite. I had been informed to stay immobilised, despite being on a section of a trail that would be tricky to reach. Without cell service, this could have been a completely different outcome. Please travel with an inReach or PLB if you intend to be entering areas without internet coverage. Also download an emergency locator app like What3Words and always carry an appropriate first aid kit. #snakebite #albania #valbonë #trailrunning #solobackpacking

Amy

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Friday 26 June 2026 13:48:14 GMT