A grievously injured rat snake received a gift of life thanks to timely rescue and medical help.

The snake was found entangled in a discarded cricket net at a playground in Bhubaneswar, India. As the snake struggled to free itself, the hard plastic wires tightened their grip, cutting into its body.

A few players spotted the trapped reptile and called Snake Helpline, whose volunteers rushed to rescue it. They carefully cut the wires around the snake and freed it.

Subhendu Mallik, Secretary of the Snake Helpline, said: “The snake was so badly injured, we could see its lungs. It was in terrible agony.”

The volunteers took the reptile to College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, where medical staff led by Dr Biswadeep Jena cleaned the wound and closed it with sutures.

Dr Jena said: “We applied cutaneous horizontal sutures under general anaesthesia. The snake responded well and it should make a full recovery after post-operative care of a week.”

The fortunate snake is now licking its wounds in a plastic box at a Sake Helpline facility.