Man recovering from 3 rattlesnake bites, required 18 vials of antivenom

WINDSOR, Colo. (KUSA) — A man is recovering after he was bitten by a rattlesnake three times during a family outing, sending him into anaphylactic shock and landing him in the hospital for several days.

Michael Padilla said the incident happened when his family pulled over at a spot in a canyon on the way back from Estes Park, where they had been celebrating his grandson’s 13th birthday.

Bites went unnoticed at first

“Hey let’s stop in the secret spot that we know, and it’s just a little spot you drive off the road,” Padilla said.

The group walked on rocks along a river. Padilla said he felt a sudden impact on his leg.

“Steps down again and next thing I know I got hit from the back boom, like somebody punched me with a thorn,” he said.

The family quickly headed back to their vehicle. Within minutes, Padilla said he began feeling disoriented.

“We were probably driving five minutes, and the next thing I know I’m starting to feel really weird, I’m getting fuzzy,” he said.

Family rushed him to emergency room

His wife, Amy Padilla, said she noticed visible symptoms.

“I could see his eyes were starting to turn red, which was really weird,” she said.

Michael Padilla said he later realized he had multiple bites on his calf.

“And then I’m like that one bite, she’s like yeah you got bit more than once. I’m like what do you mean?” he said.

He was treated at a hospital, where he received 18 vials of antivenom.

“I am just so freaking thankful that I came out as well as I did, even though it was as bad as it was,” Padilla said.

Couple urges others to act fast

Amy Padilla said the speed of their response was critical.

“Get to the emergency room or call 911 right away, because if we hadn’t of done that, if I had tried to keep driving, this would have been an entirely different story,” she said.

The couple said they want others to be aware of their surroundings during the dry, hot summer. Wildlife officials said anyone bitten by a rattlesnake should call 911 immediately.