Passersby arrive too late to save the man from being strangled to death by a python. —Pix courtesy of Selangor Fire and Rescue Department

PETALING JAYA, Jan 28 — A 35-year-old man was strangled to death by a four-metre-long python after he attempted to catch it today.

Kuala Langat police chief Superintendent Azizan Tukiman said the deceased was identified as Zaim Khalis Kosnan, an unemployed man who had earlier told his elder sister he wanted to catch the reptile after he found it while on his way home from Sg. Jarom, Kuala Langat around 3am.

“The victim left the house with a pair of gloves and a small sickle to capture the snake so he could sell it later,” he said. The python after it was beaten to death by passersby.

Investigations showed the victim was already dead by the time several passers-by tried to rescue him beside a road at Kg Jenjarom around 3.20am.

Azizan said the group also killed the snake during its attempt to free Zaim Khalis from the python’s grip.

He said the deceased was brought to the Banting Hospital for post-mortem.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations management chief Alimaddia Bukri said the department received a special service alert around 4.08am and arrived at the location four minutes later.

He said seven personnel were dispatched to the scene to dispose the snake after it was killed.