A shopper was left stunned when a snake slithered out of an ATM as she withdrew cash.

The frightened nursing assistant was greeted by a Malayan pit viper instead of receiving 900 baht (approximately 21 GBP) from the cash dispenser in Surin, Thailand.

She recalled that the snake crawled out of the opening along with the banknotes, startling her and causing her to step back to safety on October 24.

Unable to retrieve the bills, the dispenser later closed, prompting the woman to call Lamduan Police Station for assistance.

Officers arrived to inspect the machine and reportedly managed to remove only one 100 baht banknote.

The authorities said they temporarily suspended the ATM's use and contacted the bank to open the machine for inspection and to return the remaining cash to the customer.

The woman was reportedly unharmed from the encounter.

Police suspected that the snake was a Malayan pit viper, a venomous species.

The Malayan pit viper, Thailand's most dangerous venomous snake, has a potent hemotoxic venom that destroys blood cells and tissues. Found across the country, particularly in the south, the species often inhabits rubber and oil palm plantations, where human encounters are common.

Victims typically experience rapid swelling, blistering, and severe bleeding within minutes of being bitten, with the risk of fatal blood loss and tissue necrosis. Known locally as Ka-pa for the foul odour from bite wounds, the snake is one of seven venomous species of major medical concern in the country.