A 25-year-old California man has died after being bitten by a rattlesnake while mountain biking, marking a rare and tragic outcome of an encounter with a venomous wildlife.
According to local law enforcement, the incident occurred around 11 a.m. on February 1 at the Quail Hill Trailhead in Irvine, a popular outdoor attraction near the Quail Hill Community Center.
Julian Hernandez of Costa Mesa was bitten by a snake while riding on the road. Authorities rushed him to the hospital, where he fell into a coma and was treated in the intensive care unit until he died from the bite on March 4, authorities said.
His family remembers him as a beloved son, brother, boyfriend, friend and community member. They told CBS News they also initiated a third-party autopsy.
His family told the outlet: “Our focus now is on supporting his family through this unimaginable loss.”
Julian Hernandez, 25, of Costa Mesa, California, died last week after being bitten by a rattlesnake while mountain biking on a trail in Irvine more than a month ago (GoFundMe)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that while about 7,000 to 8,000 venomous snake bites occur in the United States each year, only a few result in death.
Experts stress the importance of seeking immediate medical attention after being bitten, as the venom can cause serious and potentially fatal complications if left untreated.
“Being bitten by a rattlesnake venom puts a huge amount of stress on the body,” Kaiser Permanente’s Dr. William Woo told KTLA. “It can cause organ failure. It can be very serious, and we know an effective treatment is antivenom, and the sooner we give it, the better off the patient is. It can cause a whole host of problems in the body.”
Wu also advises that anyone bitten by a rattlesnake should avoid using outdated or dangerous remedies, such as trying to suck out the venom or applying a tourniquet, which may worsen the injury.
“Try to stay calm, keep your heart rate nice and slow, and keep the bite area in a neutral, relaxed position, that’s the best thing you can do,” he says. “Don’t delay hospitalization. That’s the most important thing.”
Hernandez’s family has also started a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral and related expenses.
“He was strong and healthy. When he arrived at the hospital, he was alive. His entire family was there, advocating for him every step of the way. Julian did not survive,” fundraiser organizer James Hernandez wrote.
“We are a family who gave our son to someone we trusted and never got him back. We have questions that need answers, and getting those answers will require a legal battle. These funds will help pay for hospital bills, memorial service costs, and any additional financial stress caused by the current situation. We will get to the bottom of what happened to Julian and stand up for him.
“This is not about anger. This is about responsibility. This is about making sure the next family that walks through these doors doesn’t experience our nightmare,” James Hernandez said.
