The main drag of Thirroul had an unexpected lunch-time arrival after a more than one metre long red belly black snake slithered past shoppers and diners near the corner of McCauley Street and Lawrence Hargrave Drive on Friday afternoon.
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The snake was first spotted emerging from underneath a white SUV during the lunch rush.
Cafe staff attempted to cordon off the reptile while animal rescue services were called, however none were available to safely remove the venomous creature.
In search of a better hiding spot the snake began to make its way to Lawrence Hargrave Drive, drawing a crowd.
"He was trying to hide, not too successfully," one observer noted.
Eventually, bystanders were able to contact Nico Plaza, a landscaper from Stanwell Park who is known for taking photos of snakes.
"I just heard that it was it was in trouble and they said that no one was coming to pick it up. So yeah, I just thought I'd go down and help out," he said.
Having just finished his shift, Mr Plaza arrived on scene shirtless and in about a minute was able to get the snake safely in a bag.
With the assistance of a few onlookers, the snake was quickly captured into a bag and subsequently returned to the bush.
"I was in such a rush that the bag wasn't on my hoop, so I had to get my mates to put in on the hoop," Mr Plaza said.
Mr Plaza said in these situations it is best to call a professional snake catcher.
"Leave the snake alone and call a professional snake wrangler."
Southern Highlands snake catcher Ray McGibbon said if a member of the public tries to capture a snake, it's not just a bite they have to worry about.
"He handled it pretty well, but if a member of the public tried to help him and got bitten, then they can sue shop owners, councils, a lot of things."
While the venom of from a red belly black snakes can cause illness, with hospitalisation not uncommon after a bite, many bite victims experience only mild or negligible symptoms, according to the Australian Museum, and concern was more for the snake's welfare.
"I felt for the animal more than anything," the observer said.
With the snake mating season running during the warmer months, sightings of snakes on the prowl pick up during the summer.
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