Florida Man Faces Charges After Being Bitten Attempting to Kiss Venomous Snake He took a liking to the snake and decided to keep it as a pet, friends said.

 -- A Florida man was bitten in the face by a venomous snake after trying to kiss it, authorities told ABC Tampa affiliate WFTS-TV.

Austin Hatfield, 18, of Wimauma, told his friends he took a liking to the snake and decided to keep it as a pet, Robin Belcher, the mother of his best friend, Jason Belcher, told ABC News.

“It was a cottonmouth snake, 4 foot, and he pulled it out of pillow case and laid it on his chest and it ended up striking him on the face,” Belcher said.

The teenager, who is reportedly in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital, did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment. Family members reportedly killed the reptile and brought it to the hospital.