The body of a young British wildlife enthusiast, who would have celebrated his 29th birthday today, was flown back to London last night after he was bitten by a deadly black mamba snake in South Africa.

Nathan Layton was taking part in a year-long training programme to fulfil his dream of becoming a game ranger when he was bitten by the snake, Africa’s most deadly, at a safari college on the edge of the Kruger game reserve.

Mr Layton was walking in the grounds of the South African Wildlife Campus in Hoedspruit with teachers and other students taking a safari field-guide course organised by the nature group Bushwise when the attack happened.

“Bushwise staff acted immediately, calling an ambulance when Nathan reported symptoms of a snake bite. Nathan was pronounced dead soon after the ambulance arrived at the campus,” the group said in a statement. “He died as a result of a lethal bite, given to him by a juvenile black mamba snake.”

Johan Fourie, who runs a similar school in Ladysmith in the southern part of the country, said yesterday that it was unlikely that an antidote to snake venom would have been on hand because it can only be administered by doctors and is not the primary response to snake bites.

When it is decided to administer anti-venom the patient also has to be monitored carefully for side-effects, such as violent increases in temperature, which can also be dangerous, he said.

Mr Layton, from Wing, Buckinghamshire, and his girlfriend, Laura Woolley, who was taking the same course, had gone to South Africa via the British-based ethical volunteering organisation, Global Vision International (GVI).

GVI sends 2,000 young Britons abroad each year to work on conservation and charity projects in the developing world. Many go to South Africa.

“Bushwise and GVI are collating information and witness statements and also are working closely with the local police and authorities to assist them in their own investigation,” Bushwise’s statement added.

Ms Woolley was believed to be a passenger on a flight bringing Mr Layton’s body home from South Africa last night. His parents, Robert and Ann, declined to comment.

Friends and relatives had expected Mr Layton to return to Britain with an internationally recognised safari guide qualification and to begin a career in wildlife or conservation. Ms Woolley has expressed an interest in continuing with the course out of respect for Mr Layton’s memory.

A memorial page on the social networking website Facebook, established after news of his death on March 4 spread, contains comments from 112 friends. “Died doing what he loved,” says one entry, posted below his date of birth. Another entry says simply: “We love you buddy — you’ll be missed and never forgotten.”

The black mamba is the second-most venomous snake in the world and one of the deadliest. It is found in many parts of South Africa and has been responsible for the death of at least two game rangers in the Kruger in the past ten years.

The incident, the first death of a student on a GVI project, is certain to reawaken concern about the safety of young Britons on overseas programmes.

Richard Walton, director of GVI, said: “We are all deeply saddened by this terrible incident. We are doing all we can to help the family at this difficult time. Counselling has been supplied to the other students on the campus and ongoing support will continue to be offered to anyone who needs it.”

The shy killer

— The black mamba is the second-largest venomous snake, after the king cobra, reaching 4m long

— It is also the fastest snake, at up to 9mph

— Found in eastern and southwest Africa, it lives off lizards, birds and rodents

— Generally, it is a shy snake and will hide to escape human beings. It fights viciously if cornered

— When striking prey, black mambas can raise their heads a metre above the ground

— Without treatment, bites are almost certainly fatal, usually killing the victim within 20 minutes

Sources: Young People’s Trust for the Environment, National Geographic

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