This is the terrifying moment a snake charmer is bitten by a KING COBRA - moments before passing out and being rushed to hospital.

Yuttapong Chaibooddee, 35, was performing at the animal show in Phuket, Thailand, on December 7 afternoon when the deadly reptile sunk its fangs into his left arm.

The entertainer yanked off the black hooded serpent and hurled it to the ground before stumbling away. But shortly after he was rendered unconscious as the venom flowed through his veins.

Father-of-one Yuttapong stopped breathing and was rushed to hospital where medics pumped him full of antibodies and put him on support machines.

The snake charmer was released after three nights but even after ten days, he still has deep burn-like wound across his body, including his left bicep, forearm, thighs and even inside his lips.

Yuttapong said: ''I've been bitten by snakes many times but never had a strong injury like this. I was suffocating and then I was unconscious.

''The snake was a King Cobra from the south of Thailand and it's venom was very powerful. It was unexpected. It is like a monster cobra, more powerful than others.

''I thought I was going to die. I'm so very thankful to the doctors who saved me.''

Yuttapong said he knows the industry is ''high risk'' and accepts all responsibility for being bitten. He added: ''The snake's instinct is to bite. It is not the snake's fault. I have many wounds but they are not infected. They are healing. The scars are on my arms and legs, just from one bite. They show how powerful this snake's venom is.''