Late snake-handling pastor Jamie Coots' son bit by rattlesnake

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The son of a snake-handling Kentucky preacher who died from a snakebite says he's recovering from his own rattlesnake wound.

Cody Coots, 21, took over services at Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name in Middlesboro after his father, Jamie Coots, died after being bitten during a service in February.

Cody's sister, Katrina Coots, confirmed her brother was bitten by a rattlesnake while going through a cage with a couple snakes in it.

According to WLEX, the family said, "we just have to put all things in the hands of Jesus....Cody did not sleep well. He is swollen and his hand is black.....but he is sleeping now and is not in pain," in a Facebook post.

The Coots family believes they should not seek medical treatment if bitten, and that a snake bite is God's will.

The family expects Cody to be ok.

Jamie Coots starred on the reality show "Snake Salvation" alongside Pastor Andrew Hamblin, from LaFollette. The National Geographic show profiled the pastors' efforts to keep their snake-handling religious traditions alive.

He had survived several snake bites before the fatal bite.