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Vets in Australia carried out a delicate operation on a pet snake after it swallowed a large pair of barbecue tongs.

Winston the woma python gulped down the cooking utensils as his owner Aaron Rouse fed him a dead rat.

The ravenous reptile grabbed on to the tongs and, when Aaron could not free them from his mouth, he left them in the cage.

But he was "dumbfounded" when he came back later to find they had disappeared completely.

The tongs were clearly visible inside the reptile as it slithered uncomfortably around its cage and x-rays revealed they were completely lodged in its stomach.

Worried Aaron called Dr Oliver Funnell, a veterinary expert at Adelaide University, for advice.

(Image: University of Adelaide)

After taking a look at the stuffed animal, the vet decided that surgery was the only option.

He told 891 ABC Adelaide: "Aaron said the snake had swallowed some tongs and initially I was imagining some small forceps or tweezers or something like that.

"When he arrived, the snake was in a box and I said, 'Are you sure he swallowed the tongs?' and Aaron just laughed because when you opened the box it was obvious what the problem was.

"You could basically see the shape of the tongs, and there's a small clip that you slide forward to lock them and you could actually see the outline of that through the snake. You could even see the bumps on the end of the tongs."

(Image: University of Adelaide)

Snake can regurgitate food, but vet said he didn't think Winston would be able to bring the tongs back up because of their sharp edges.

He decided on surgery, as pulling the tongs out could have caused internal damage.

The delicate operation involved slicing open the animal whilst being careful not to damage any of its internal organs.

He an an incision over the large end of the tongs, which were the further away from the heart and lungs.

They were then able to remove the kitchen utensil.

Fortunately Winston survived the surgery and is reported to be making a good recovery.