by Alan McGuinness

A dad-of-two has told how he almost died after being bitten by an adder in a Medway park.

Matthew Popov, 31, from Frindsbury, was walking through Riverside Country Park with his family when he picked up the snake which bit him.

He was rushed to Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, where he was given anti-venom and adrenalin.

Matthew also had to stop his six-year-old son, also called Matthew, from picking up the creature and said he went to pick it up so I could move it to the side of the path out of harm's way.

He said: "As I put my hand out to try and grab behind its head, it bit me before slithering away.

"Within a couple of minutes I felt a stinging sensation which slowly crept up my left arm."

His wife Amee told the Medway Messenger she thought he was having a panic attack at first.

"My immediate reaction was shock. I didn't believe that he had been bitten, because it was quite quick." she said.

"It wasn't until he showed me his finger and a pin-prick blood spot that I actually believed him."

His condition soon deteriorated, and he asked his wife to call an ambulance.

Amee said: "That's when I looked at him and he had gone as white as a sheet.

"He was sweating profusely and then I knew something was seriously wrong."

A park ranger dialed 999, and 12 doctors and nurses were waiting in Accident and Emergency when Matthew arrived.

The incident happened last Sunday, July 18.

Amee had taken a picture of the snake on her mobile and this enabled them to get their hands on the right anti-venom.

After a night in intensive care he was discharged from hospital the next day.

Dr Alexsander Tsolov and Dr Baktiar Ali, two of the doctors who treated Matthew, said: "We gave him all the required medication and an anti-dote.

"We are pleased to hear that Mr Popov is doing well and are grateful for his thanks."

Amee says she knows how close she came to losing her husband.

Audio: Amee reveals what happened when she realised

"The recovery has been fantastic.

"I do believe that's down to the doctors and nurses at Medway Hospital. I don't believe he would be here today if it wasn't for them."

Matthew says he feels fine: "I'm great, I was back to myself the next day.

"The antibiotics have taken the swelling down now. I went back to work today.

"I'm back in perfect condition thanks to the hospital."

Amee also believes signs should be put up in the park where Matthew was bitten.

"It's just unbelievable that there are no signs because if it had been my son the nurses at Medway Hospital said he would not be here today."

She added: "So what's it going to take? It's a simple sign to advise people to leave the snakes alone because they can kill.

"It's that serious."