A MAN was rushed to a hospital after a snake bit his penis while he was relieving himself in a toilet, according to hospital officials in Israel.

The man, 35, of northern Israel was bitten on Friday after the snake suddenly appeared from inside the toilet.



The man suffered minor injuries from the bite; fortunately the snake was not venomous.



Rescue workers responded to the scene and took the man to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, where he received medical treatment, reports Your Jewish News.



An examination revealed the snake was not poisonous.



The man told emergency workers it happened after he went to the toilet to relieve himself and suddenly felt a strong burning sensation in his penis.



One of the paramedics said the man told him he has seen the snake and it was very small.



According to the paramedic, despite the location of the injury, the man managed to stay calm and even had a laugh with workers at his own expense.



'This is the first time I've seen a snake bite like this,' the paramedic said.



'Luckily, all tests seem fine and the man is feeling well,' the paramedic added.



'There will undoubtedly be bite marks on the area in question,' the hospital said.



'The snake was not poisonous. The man is currently under observation pending additional test results and as soon as we get the results, he will be able to go home,' the hospital said.



The man was lucky the snake was not venomous since there are many deadly species commonly found in Israel. Snakes are very territorial and will strike out to protect their space, be it a rocky crevice or a domestic toilet.



It is 'snake season' currently in the Middle East and among the most dangerous are the black snake or desert cobra, the horned desert viper, the Palestinian viper which is the most common poisonous snake in Israel, the saw-scaled viper, or the false horned viper.



To prevent meeting a snake in the home, it is recommended to keep the house clear of rats, mice and other snake prey, fix leaky taps (snakes are drawn to water), and try to minimise plants and maximise grass in the garden since plants provide the perfect cover for snakes.



Fix windows on the house and windscreens on cars, to avoid any unwelcome surprises.



Keeping a cat is also a great way to scare off snakes since they are one of their biggest enemies