St. Johns County woman nearly dies after two bites from water moccasin

Note: The story originally appeared in June 2015.

Meaghan Banach is recovering at home after spending days in the intensive care unit being treated for two snake bites from a highly venomous water moccasin.

In most cases, minor to moderate bites will take about 18 vials of anti-venom medication. Banach needed more than 30 vials.

Banach has lived in the Durbin Crossing subdivision in St. Johns County for about two years and said she has seen snakes in her backyard before but never imagined a venomous water moccasin would be hiding in her hose box.

Banach was bitten twice as she prepared to bathe her dog.

“So I just stepped down right next to the hose box, I turned the water on and the snake bit me,” Banach said.

Two weeks after the bites, she is doing better but her foot remains swollen and bandaged.

“It was very painful. I had natural labor with my daughter and it was worse than that,” Banach said.

The news quickly spread throughout the area and neighbors are taking precautions.

“My kids don't get to go in the backyard anymore, which is awful. It's summer, today is the last day of school,” neighbor Nikki Smith said.

Banach says she’s thankful that her 4-year-old son and her dog weren’t bitten.

“We just have to be more careful with what we are doing and more aware. I wish I would've been more aware that that was a possibility,” Banach said.

Banach is still having a hard time walking but her spirit remains high.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for her to help with the hospital bills after spending several days in the ICU.

Cox Media Group