“Colorado man dead Gila monster.”
Tragic Incident Involving a Colorado Man and a Gila Monster
A Gila monster was on display at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle on Dec. 14, 2018. While Gila monster bites can be painful to humans, they are typically not fatal, according to experts.
Ted S. Warren/AP
A Gila monster was showcased at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle on Dec. 14, 2018. Although Gila monster bites can cause discomfort to humans, they are usually not life-threatening.
A tragic incident occurred when a Colorado man passed away after being bitten by his pet Gila monster. This unfortunate death by one of the desert lizards would be rare if the venom from the creature is confirmed to be the cause.
Christopher Ward, 34, was rushed to the hospital shortly after being bitten by one of his two pet Gila monsters on Feb. 12. He was quickly put on life support and tragically succumbed on Friday, as confirmed by Lakewood Police Department spokesman John Romero on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Jefferson County coroner’s officials refrained from commenting on the incident, including whether tests had determined if Ward’s demise resulted from the pet’s venom or another underlying medical condition.
Following the bite, Ward’s girlfriend surrendered the lizard named Winston and another named Potato to Lakewood animal control officer Leesha Crookston and her team. She informed the authorities that she noticed something amiss and found Winston attached to Ward’s hand in a room, as detailed in Crookston’s report.
According to the report, Ward’s girlfriend recounted that he immediately displayed symptoms, including vomiting multiple times, losing consciousness, and ceasing to breathe. Ward was admitted to the hospital and was later declared brain dead by doctors.
Reportedly, Ward’s girlfriend mentioned that they acquired Winston at a reptile exhibition in Denver in October and purchased Potato from a breeder in Arizona in November. Upon learning that Gila monsters were prohibited in Lakewood, she expressed her desire to have them removed from her residence promptly.
Collaborating with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, officers relocated the lizards to Reptile Gardens outside Rapid City, South Dakota. Additionally, twenty-six spiders of various species found in the home were transferred to a nearby animal shelter.
Gila monsters are venomous reptiles native to parts of the southwestern U.S. and adjacent regions of Mexico. While their bites can induce severe pain and lead to unconsciousness, fatalities are uncommon.
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