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Fisherman's photos chronicle battle between snake, poisonous fish

By Ben Hooper
Spear fisherman Rick Trippe discovered the sea snake and stonefish in a venomous battle to the death off the coast of Darwin, Australia. WPTV video screenshot
Spear fisherman Rick Trippe discovered the sea snake and stonefish in a venomous battle to the death off the coast of Darwin, Australia. WPTV video screenshot

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DARWIN, Australia, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- An Australian spear fisherman captured photos of a deadly battle between a deadly snake and one of the world's most venomous fish.

Rick Trippe said he was diving at the site of a World War II wreck last Thursday off the coast of Darwin when he came across a sea snake latched onto a creature he identified as a venomous stonefish.

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He said both venomous creatures were biting each other.

"I knew the fish would die because the sea snake is highly poisonous," Trippe told CNN. "But I knew the snake would also die from the fish's poison if I just left it there."

Trippe, who said he regularly removes pythons from his chicken coop, said he drew on his snake experience when he pulled the creatures out of the water.

"I'm silly but not mad. I knew this was dangerous. I knew if I grabbed it I wouldn't get the bitten," Trippe told the BBC. "I could hear the fish croaking so I let them both go, but the snake made a beeline back to the fish."

Trippe said the snake quickly finished the fish off and made it into a meal.

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The fisherman previously made headlines last month when he helped a swimming racehorse find its way back to shore.

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