Snake expert live streams suicide after letting a deadly black mamba bite his hand

Will Stewart and Aletha Adu
The Sun
Tue, 26 Sep 2017 19:18 UTC

© EAST2WEST News

A day before he live streamed his death, Valeev announced a special broadcast of his beloved snake, Mamba

A heartbroken snake expert filmed himself dying on a live stream broadcast - after he let his pet black mamba bite his hand in the wake of his marital breakdown.

Arslan Valeev, 31, from St Petersburg, Russia pleaded with viewers to call his ex-wife, Ekaterina 'Katya' Pyatyzhkina, as he visibly deteriorated on camera.

Valeev - who had reportedly split with his wife after beating her - initially went off camera and a muffled "ouch" can be heard as the deadly snake bit him.

The actual snake bite and moment of death were not shown, but the blogger - a former zoo employee - allowed viewers to see the bite on his hand.

At the end of the footage, he got up from his chair and staggered off camera, possibly towards a bathroom. He died soon afterwards.

In the shocking live stream, he said: "If I die, then I die... I just will stay with you for some time. Just in case - on my mobile there is a message for Katya..."

His breathing quickens, and his eyes started rolling, before his muscles appeared to become numb.

"Pass on to Katya that I loved her very much," he said, showing his bitten finger with blood on it.

"Beautiful, isn't it? Oh, damn, how it... Bye to everyone... I can't believe it is happening to me..."

He then read out his former wife's mobile number, before adding: "I'm already dying. Farewell. I would be glad to see Katya. Damn, I'm shaking."

He and Katya were famous for running YouTube channels BobCat TV (about felines) and Exotarium (about snakes) with hundreds of thousands of followers.

Friends said on 4 August he had accused her of cheating on him.

Valeev beat her and she suffered concussion, it was reported.

He later repented and on 21 September publicly apologised to her for his behaviour, saying that their sexual relationship had ended in July.

Valeev's death comes hours after a snake lover, who died close to his pet python, was suffocated to death.

Cops initially confirmed Dan Brandon's body had suffered "serious injuries".

Black mambas are known for their highly aggressive nature and lethal venom. Widely considered the world's deadliest snake, they can grow up to 14ft, weighing less than four lbs.

The shy serpents will repeatedly strike if threatened.

Black mambas are found slithering through the rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa.

Snake bite victims will usually die within 20 minutes.

Comment: Details of snake handler Dan Brandon's death:

Dan Brandon, 31, was discovered at his home in Church Crookham, Fleet, in the room in which he kept his snakes, with the pet out of his pen.

It was confirmed to The Sun yesterday that there is an investigation into whether the python was involved in Dan's death.

And today authorities confirmed Dan had died of asphyxiation.

Non-venomous pythons kill by wrapping round their pray and squeezing them to death.

Dan's inquest was opened in a minute-long hearing before being adjourned to next month.

The coroner's official told The Sun: "The post mortem has come back and the inquest was opened.

"His cause of death was asphyxia and he was identified by his mum and dad.

"The full inquest will happen next month."

A different source added today: "The snake is still part of the death investigation. It definitely hasn't been ruled out."

Police described gentle Dan as being seriously injured when they found him dead.

The Sun's exclusive on the snake riddle made worldwide news this morning, with outlets as far as America and Australia following up our story.

Dan's social media presence show him with a number of snakes around his neck.

A JustGiving page set up in memory of him is raising money for WWF in his honour.

It reads "Dan unexpectedly passed away at home.

"He was obsessed with snakes, spiders, birds and all wildlife.

"Dan... We will all miss you so much."

A spokesman for Hampshire Police told The Sun: "We were called to an address in Church Crookham. A 31-year-old man had suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage. A file will be prepared for the coroner."