Snake bite kills 69-year-old man

A 69-year-old Lancashire man has died after being bitten by a snake in a Turkish holiday resort.

Harold Wilock was bitten early in July in Altinkum and was treated first in a Turkish Hospital and later in the Royal Preston Hospital where he died.

The father-of-four's left leg, which had turned black, had to be amputed and he had five operations in Preston. "It's a tragedy," said his wife Mary.

Mr Wilcock's funeral took place on Tuesday at St Chad's Church, Poulton.

Anti-venom serum

Mr Wilcock had been lying on a balcony when he complained that he had been bitten on the ankle.

Hours later he started shivering and the leg began to swell.

Doctors at Aydin Hospital, two hours away, initially thought Mr Wilock had Deep Vein Thrombosis.

He was given antibiotics but his family believe his life could have been saved if he had been given anti-venom serum.

"The poison spread right through his body," said Mrs Wilcock.

His family were unhappy with his treatment in Turkey and he was eventually transferred to Preston, where he died 5 August.