A snake charmer has died after being bitten by his pet cobra while he was showing off in a village.

Abdul Munir, 20, was taunting the killer reptile on the dusty ground near his home in Central Java, Indonesia, on Wednesday afternoon.

He was about to kiss the beast when the enraged reptile reared up and bit him on his nose - sinking a fiery burst of deadly venom into his bloodstream.

Abdul was rushed to the local clinic but the toxins had already paralysed his vital organs and he could not be revived before medics had the chance to send him to a hospital.

Adjunct Commissioner Siswanto, Chief of the Panunggalan Sector Police, said: 'The incident occurred at around 4:45 pm. Then it was reported at 19.20 pm. We received the report that the victim was bitten on the nose when he was about to kiss the snake's head.

'He became dizzy and fell before local residents evacuated him to a health service. The victim died while being treated at the clinic.'

Abdul was pronounced dead at the Kusuma Wardani Clinic in the village of Jatiharjo. His family had just arrived to see him before he succumbed to the snake bite around 20 minutes later. His body has now been taken away for religious rites and cremation.

Police said that Abdul and several friends had made money by performing primitive snake charming shows at different villages in the Grobogan Regency of the archipelago.

The troupe of reptile enthusists would collect tips from locals and sell them their wares. However, the deadly hustle was cut short following the death in Pulokulon district.

Abdul's friends told police they would not carry on with their dangerous hobby.

Police chief Siswanto added: 'The victim was in the process of being transferred to a larger hospital better equipped to handle cobra bites when he died.

'We have advised everybody not to continue this kind of activity as it is very dangerous.'

Cobras are one of the world's deadliest snakes. A single bite attacks the nervous system causing paralysis, respiratory failure, and death.

However, cobras will also inflict 'dry bites' without releasing venom if they sense that only a warning is needed to remove a threat.