Woman wakes up to find escaped 3ft python curled up in her bed in Kensington flat

Shocking discovery: A woman had the "fright of her life" when she found this python in her bed
PA
Fiona Simpson28 July 2018

A woman had “the fright of her life” when a 3ft long python slithered into her bed as she slept in her Kensington flat.

The royal python, believed to be an escaped pet, had curled up next to her in the middle of the night.

She made a desperate call to the RSPCA for help on Monday morning after jumping out of bed, rushing out of her bedroom and barricading the door.

But by the time animal collection officer Jill Sanders arrived at her flat in west London the snake had slithered away.

"The poor resident must have had the fright of their life waking up to a snake in their bed," she said.

Unwanted guest: The escaped python curled up next to a sleeping woman
PA

"They jumped out of bed and closed their bedroom door to contain the snake but, when I arrived, I couldn't find where the python had slithered to.

"I left my details and told them to contact me as soon as they saw it again."

The python was finally caught by Ms Sanders in the corridor the following evening when she was called back to the flat.

The RSPCA does not know how it got in but believes it must have escaped from its owner nearby.

The animal welfare charity says it collects more snakes in the summer as they have more energy in the warm weather and are good escape artists.

Ms Sanders added: "We would always recommend owners invest in an enclosure suitable for the particular species and that the enclosure is kept secure, and locked if necessary, when unattended.

"Reptiles, particularly snakes, can be extremely good escape artists and will take the opportunity of a gap in an enclosure door, or a loose-fitting lid."

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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