'This is my worst fear': Driver returns to his car to find 'the most Australian note ever' attached to the windscreen - before uncovering a deadly snake under his bonnet
A Sydney council worker found a warning note on his car before discovering a venomous snake in his car engine.
The Northern Beaches Council worker found 'the most Australian note ever' on his car in Warriewood near the council's Boondah Depot in Sydney's north on Wednesday morning.
'Hey mate, a big red-bellied black snake crawled into your rear tyre well and disappeared. Just wanted to let you know,' the note read.
A Northern Beaches Council worker found 'the most Australian note ever' on his car in Warriewood near the council's Boondah Depot in Sydney's north on Wednesday morning
Northern Beaches Council posted a picture of the note to Facebook on Wednesday.
'One of our staff members found this note on his car this morning, after inspecting the car and not finding anything he started his drive,' the post was captioned.
'As he was driving, he smelt burning and stopped to inspect the engine and... look who he found!'
The council also posted a picture of the red-bellied snake, which was slithering around in the engine under the bonnet.
'Luckily the red-bellied black snake is a-okay and has been safely relocated. Big thanks to the person who took the time to leave a note for the driver,' the council wrote.
The snake was also pictured slithering away on grass next to a wall made of rocks.
The council driver inspected his car but could not find the snake so he began driving. Eventually he smelt burning and stopped to life his bonnet when he discovered a red-bellied black snake slithering around his engine
'With this warmer weather, our local reptiles are more active. If you need a snake to be relocated, call WIRES 1300 094 737 or Sydney Wildlife 9413 4300,' the council warned.
Facebook users were equally amused and terrified by the situation.
'Possibly the most Australian note ever written!' One person wrote.
Another said: 'Well thank god there are some decent humans left.'
'I am just confused as to why he didn't sell the car upon reading the note,' one user said.
'See I would've left my car - it's the snakes car now,' another wrote.
Meanwhile, one person simply said: 'This is my worst fear.'
The snake was removed from the car and set free. Northern Beaches Council later posted pictures of the snake to Facebook to the shock and amusement of users
Red-bellied black snakes are endemic to the east and southern coasts of Australia, which means they are found nowhere else in the world.
The snake's bite alone can be very painful and causes swelling, prolonged bleeding and necrosis, which is the premature death of cells that may lead to amputation if not treated quickly.
Its venom contains a variety of toxins that cause nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, excessive sweating and a a loss of sense of smell.
Red-bellied black snakes made up 16 per cent of snakebite victims in Australia from 2005 to 2015 but no deaths have been recorded.
They are not an aggressive species but can attack if provoked, which is why they are the mainly responsible for envenomed dogs in New South Wales.
A 12-year-old golden retriever bitten by a snake suffered rhabdomyolysis, which caused muscle protein to be released into the blood, which in turn resulted in acute kidney injury for the dog in 2006.
Red bellies mainly eat frogs as well as fish, reptiles and small mammals in shallow water in bush and swampland but sometimes slither into nearby urban areas.
Red-bellied black snakes have venom contains a variety of toxins that cause nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, excessive sweating and a a loss of sense of smell