A safari school might want to consider having a doctor and antivenin nearby when folks go out in a large group to commune with nature.

Jim Harrison, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

I am sure if wildlife was in his blood that he will be loking down and smiling that he died doing what he loved. While I am sure everyone will miss him the conservation efforts he would have involved himself in will continue with him watching over the projects. I myself start the very same course in January 2009 and will ensure I think of Nathon everytime I am in the field.

Sarah Joubert, Pinner, England

My condolences to the family and those who loved Nathan.
It is tragic to know that such an eventuality could have been avoided if he had just told someone in authority that he had been bitten immediately it had happenned! Even so, a trip to a hospital for life support while antivenom is sought and administered can still take it's toll, depending on the suseptibility of the individual. Every one of us is an experiment of one. Antivenom for Black Mamba bites has a short shelf- life and cannot be stored on site or administered outside of a controlled medical environment, where it must be given by a Doctor. The common protocol on snake bite is to treat all bites symptomatically, even for a positively identified snake.
Africa is considered a continent of inefficiency, but when it comes to the natural residents there is NO inefficiency in performance. As one who grew up in the African bush, if this man died pursuing his dream and doing what he loved this is some consolation. Shalom

Rowan, Livingstone, Zambia

Mike Webb is so so right in this case, if you know that you have been bitten by a mamba you do not wait for an ambulance, you have to grow wings and fly to the hospital or you will die very quickly.
My little terrier was bitten by an adult mamba back in the sixties, it lost all mobility, fluttered and died within minutes.

Ian, London,

I know someone who was bitten by a black mamba in Port Edward who was immediately rushed to the Margate hospital at 160km/hr, who survived. Something is very wrong if they had identified the snake as a black mamba and then waited for an ambulance. Did they not have a vehicle?

Mike Webb, Roodepoort, South Africa

My condolances to the family and friends.
I traveled in Kenya in 2006 and met two missionaries there who had learned to treat black mamba snake bites with a stun gun. The electrical impulse denatues the venom protein. Then they treat the victim with antibiotics for the wound. They had personally treated 31 people and they had all survived. They were in very romote areas where there was no hope getting to antivenom. I can't speak to the authenticity of this claim but I totally trust the people that told me of their experiences.

Alice, Grass Valley, CA / USA

I entered this web site quite by chance and continued out of idle curiosity. The death of Nathan is, of course, a tragedy. What has struck me are those who are total strangers to him and his family who have sent their best wishes and I am happy to believe that there is good in this world.
It's heartening and I applaud you all.

Alec., Norfolk., England.

I was under the impression he was bitten in a controlled situation, but the bite was not considered to have injected poison into his system. That it was only when his vision started blurring - by which time it was too late - that anything was done.

Just goes to show how confusing different reports can be.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

To Jess in Oxford. Anti venom lasts for a very short time, and needs to be kept at a controlled temperature. You cannot carry anti venom for all of the dangerous snakes in Africa with you when you go walking in the bush.
I worked in SA for 5 years in the bush and if you do that you know the risks involved, from large predators, to snakes, to spiders. You have to be careful at all times, but sometimes it is just bad luck.
I have witnessed a nick (not even a bite) from a puff adder which almost led to an amputation, but thankfully didn't - and this was on a person who had grown up in the bush.
What happened to Nathan is truly tragic, but should not be seen as a lack of responsible attitude by his guides and teachers - they know what they are doing and they offer sound solid advice at all times. If you live and work in the bush you have to be aware of what you are doing and take responsiblity for yourself, just as you would anywhere else in the world.

A Woolsey, London, UK

Seems to me that those teachers with him should have been carrying anti venom with them at all times especially in a place where such a deadly snake can be living. It also seems like a terrible case of pure bad luck and being in the wrong spot at the wrong time. it seems to be a waste of a beautiful life but of course being mortal we can't see the whole picture. God bless Nathan and his family and friends.

Jess, Oxford, UK

Very sad. Though snake envenomations abide by no rules I think one should familiarize themselves with the "pressure bandage" technique when venturing anywhere in Africa, Asia, Australia, Indonesia etc. Though it could have been mute since his death was so rapid studies have shown that applying a pressure bandage right after a snake bite (those snakes with neurotoxins as the main venom component i.e Mambas, Cobras, Kraits, coral Snakes etc) can delay the progression of the venom up to 6 hrs, possibly more. Black Mamba bites can treated quite successfully with antivenom if one can make it to a hospital in time and have been treated with only artificial respiration.

Very tragic. My prayers go out to his family and friends.

Jeremy, Washington, DC USA