A mother was horrified when she spotted one of the world's most venomous snakes lurking in the background of a photo she took of her children.

Having initially believed it was an innocent photo of her two children walking hand in hand in a nature reserve, Alanna couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the deadly eastern brown snake mere inches away from her son's foot.

Essentially, her two kids were inches away from a potentially life-threatening attack on an otherwise ordinary day out in the Australian town of Eskdale in north east Victoria.

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The eastern brown snake is the second most venomous snake in the world after the inland taipan, also native to Australia. Alarmingly, the creature can cause cardiac arrest just minutes after biting its victim and is responsible for about 41 per cent of all snake deaths in Australia.

One woman got bitten by a snake while asleep:

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A snake catcher called Barry Goldsmith shared the eyeopening photo after Alanna's father Mark sent it to him:

"Mark sent me this pic his daughter Alanna took of her kids as they skipped down a track on his property on the Mitta Mitta river. No one saw the large eastern brown snake until they looked at the pics later. The snake saw them coming and watched as they unknowingly skipped past."

Check out the incredible moment one scuba diver had a face to face encounter with a giant, seven-metre-long anaconda in a Brazilian river:

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"Really goes to show snakes are not aggressive and just need respect. Pretty cool huh. Thank you, Mark, for sending me the pic and for your understanding and compassion for the animals that we share our beautiful country with. Zoom in to the ground on the right of the kids. Please be careful, take care this summer, and be nice to snakes."

A family was left terrified after noticing a chilling detail in the background of a beach photo.Last year, SES Chelsea Unit took to Facebook to share a seemingly innocent photo taken at Carrum Beach in Melbourne, Australia.The snap shows a typical beach day out: a father and his daughter waving at the camera, a dog enjoying the water, two men standing a bit further out in the sea, and another parent with a child nearby.But upon deeper inspection, the eagle-eyed family noticed a harrowing detail in the background.Check out the picture below:SES Chelsea Unit circled what seemed to be a shark fin not far from all the people at the sea.The unit wrote in the caption: "As many of you would be aware, yesterday, we posted about a shark sighting, just off the beach, between Bonbeach and Chelsea. Well later, we received a message from a family, who follow our page, who were at Carrum Beach, earlier in the morning."It was their little one's first visit to the beach, and the gentleman’s partner grabbed a couple of snaps to record the day," they continued. "Later, when they got home and looked at the pictures, they noticed something in the shallow water, just behind them, was this our shark?"The unit shared that when they viewed the photo, they weren't "sure" what the sighting was so they reached out to several places for their opinions."They all agree that although they can’t confirm it’s a shark, they can’t say that it’s not," the post reads. "So, what do you think?""The family are very genuine, and in fairness, they’re the first to admit that they’re not sure what they snapped, but they certainly would like to know. So if anyone has any genuine ideas of what it might be, please let us know," they concluded the post.The family suspects that there was a shark in the background of their picture. Credit: Chase Dekker Wild-Life Images / GettyMany people were left divided over whether the shape was a shark's fin or not, so they shared their suggestions in the comment section."There is a dog in the water near whatever it is so IF the dog didn’t get taken then that is not a shark. Dogs are the first thing to get taken. I’m thinking maybe more likely a rays flap, that would also account for the NO WAKE, and the dark shadow to its right could be its other flap," one person noted.Another questioned if it was "a dolphin or a sting ray," adding: "They come fairly close to the shore. Jesus though… not keen to take the whippet for a swim now."A third user shared a lengthy suggestion, penning: "Let’s say it’s a 20cm dorsal fin, for size percent based on bronze whaler that’s only a 1.5 - 1.8m shark. If it’s a 30cm dorsal that’s a 2.3 - 2.6m shark which on one that big would be a belly to bottom of dorsal height of about 45cm swimming in 60cm of water."A fin appeared to be visible in the water. Credit: Philip Waller/Getty Images "So a 1.8m shark of that species with a fairly slender belly could easily go unnoticed and would have been far too small to take a German Shepard let alone a person," they added.However, a fourth chimed in: "A dog … it’s a dog..Ps banjo sharks are not actual sharks, they are a Ray."Nevertheless, one more person simply said that regardless of what it is, it's "better to be safe than sorry".What do you guys think?Featured image credit: AL Hedderly / Getty

A father of two passed away following a snake bite that occurred while his wife was present, with paramedics unable to reach him in time.

The incident took place at a private property in Queensland, Australia at Lockyer Valley, about 31 miles from Brisbane before 10 AM on Saturday, per the New York Post.

Following a toxicology report, the species of snake that delivered the fatal bite is unknown, but it is believed to have been an Eastern Brown.

According to reports, the Eastern Brown is the second most venomous snake in the world second to the inland taipan, but the Eastern Brown resides in more largely populated areas, putting it in contact with humans more often.

The Eastern Brown snake. Credit: cbstockfoto / Alamy

The snakes only possess short fangs capable of delivering around 4mg of venom per bite, but this is enough to kill an adult human.

According to wildlife experts, there are around 3000 snake bites in Australia per year, but only two to four of those will prove to be fatal.

Michelle Vedredi - the neighbor of the deceased man - spoke to the Courier Mail, where she gave her account of events after family and friends were concerned for her safety.

The Eastern Brown is one of the deadliest snakes in the world. Credit: Ken Griffiths / Alamy

She said: "They were asking if I was OK because the helicopter had been and there were four ambulances and cop cars. Someone told me they could hear his wife screaming through the fence for help before ambulances got there."

Sadly, the man passed away before paramedics could reach him, and his neighbor added that he used to own pythons and was familiar with handling snakes.

Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers contractor Heather McMurray told The Post that October to April is peak snake season.

"The heat and the humidity are certainly bringing (snakes) out — the pythons are loving the humidity and the brown snakes are loving the hot, dry days," she said.

Advice states to not approach these snakes, but to call snake experts to safely remove them. Credit: Ken Griffiths / Alamy

Expert advice states that if you come into contact with an Eastern Brown, do not approach it as it may become threatened, but instead call wildlife experts who will come and safely remove the snake from harm's way.

The Eastern Brown has killed more Australians than any other species of snake.

Featured image credit: Imagevixen / Alamy

A woman in Australia found one of the world’s deadliest snakes in her back garden this week, at her home in East Cessnock, New South Wales.

According to Paul Hampton, the captain of the Cessnock Rescue Squad who later captured the animal, the one-and-a-half-meter Eastern Brown snake was spotted at East Cessnock, New South Wales on Wednesday. But little did the residents know that the snake (which had a silver hide when it was seen) was actually the second most venomous land snake in the world.

Sharing a picture of the incredible reptile on their Facebook page, the Cessnock District Rescue Squad - NSW Volunteer Rescue Association Inc. wrote: "This amazing silver coloured Eastern Brown snake relocated from East Cessnock today. It looks almost chrome like the jig that Chris is using to handle it with. [sic]"

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In an interview with The Daily Mail Australia, Hampton stated: "They get quite a lot of different color variations and just before they shed they get a silvery color. It’s the second most venomous land snake in the world. Don’t try and identify them. Just assume all snakes are venomous and stay away from them."

He added that the woman who spotted the snake had accidentally stepped on it while it had been carrying a mouse in its mouth. Disturbed, she contacted the Cessnock Rescue Squad, who came to collect the reptile and released it into the wild. He also cautioned Australians to always be cautious around any wild snakes that they find."

Snakes can be nasty - and this guy found that out the hard way:

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Eastern brown snakes are commonly found on the east coast of Australia and can grow to be up to two and a half meters long. A bite from one of these venomous reptiles is extremely serious and can lead to paralysis, renal failure or cardiac arrest, which can often prove fatal to the victim.

Not only that, but Eastern brown snakes are responsible for killing more people than any other species of snake, with 23 snakebite deaths attributed to the species between 2000 and 2016.

A mom has taken to social media to share a warning to all parents and caregivers after her daughter was bitten by a snake hiding in her toys.

Kate Gardner Foust, an elementary school teacher who hails from the town of Jackson in Tenessee, took to Facebook on October 14 to share how her 19-month-old daughter, Emmy Joe, was bitten on the ankle by a copperhead.

Related - This man was attacked by a snake hiding by his friend's doorbell: 

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According to WSMV News, little Emmy Joe was with a babysitter at the time of the incident, who was forced to dial for the emergency services when the child started screaming in pain after being bitten by the venomous reptile.

Foust's husband Logan managed to find and kill the animal before it did any more harm, but Emmy Joe had to be rushed to a nearby hospital when her leg began swelling alarmingly.

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Foust took to Facebook to share an image of her little girl's injured leg, as well as an image of the copperhead lying at the bottom of her sink.

In a warning addressed to other parents, Foust wrote: "My Precious 19 month old Emmy Joe was bit by this copperhead. Hiding right beside our back door with her toys. [sic]"

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Foust continued: "Many of you have asked how big the snake was. This is it. When asked at the hospital what Logan killed it with, he said he didn’t even know. The first thing he saw. Adrenaline was kicking.

"We were both hoping it was a chicken snake but when Logan went back and moved the toys his heart immediately dropped into his stomach."

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Foust added:

"Please, please check your kids toys before they go outside to play. This has been a very hard and emotional process for both of us.

"Seeing your baby in pain knowing their is nothing you can do is one of the hardest things to do as a parent. [sic]"

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WSMV reports that Emmy spent two days in the hospital as a result of the bite, and has now been released. In the above status, her mother added that she was doing much better, although her leg is still "sensitive."