Haast was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1910. My dad and I still talk about this over 40 years later! He was born in 1910 in Paterson, N.J., to German-American parents -- his father was a mechanic, his mom a housewife. Thank you Diana, and all the other folks who have posted, for posting your personal memories of Bill Haast and your insights that the general public would never know about if you hadn't written in. Bill and Nanvy were the guest attraction and Bill has with them a 12' hamadrayad, (King Cobra) which was un a 4x4x8 gkass fronted cage identical to that in which the sidewinders were displayed. I am so glad to have found this site. BILL PUT ON HIS MILKING SHOW WHEN A SNAKE IN BILL'S HAND WIGGLED AROUND AND SPRAYED A WHITE LIQUID FROM THE REAR OF THE SNAKE INTO THE CROWD AND ACROSS THIS WOMEN'S LEGS IN FRONT OF US. Every so often the evening news would announce "Bill Haast had been bitten by a poisonous snake AGAIN." The incident did not end Haast's interest in venom research. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Snake man is master of poison and cure Bill Haast, 97, is lauded for pioneering work with snake venom By Kate Spinner Sarasota Herald-Tribune Published: Friday, July 11, 2008 at 4:30 a.m. CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Bill Haast's 97-year-old fingers, withered by scores of snake bites, are too weak to handle cobras and pit vipers anymore. I am transferring my old pictures to new albums and came across our photos at The Serpentarium in 1973 when we were there with our family while on vacatin. The gentle smile said yes as I ran in the house saying " He' a Colonel Dick a real live Colonel!!!" independent local journalism in Miami. Its very surprising, its an extremely rare occurrence in anywhere you have alligators, but we do ask people to be mindful that we do have alligators in the water in Florida and you have to be careful, Mr Wiley said. However, sometime in my teens I developed a real fear of snakes, somewhat unusual since there were no poisonous varieties in my area. On March 15, 2009, 11-year-old Briony Goodsell was killed by a crocodile when swimming with friends at Lambell's Lagoon near Humpty Doo in Northern Territory. Hi, my uncle Ted Kundtz just passed away a few months ago and he told me that he had helped out Mr. Haast when he was younger. Art Levy | 8/1/2008. I recall Carlita as being a very exotic woman with her eyes made up just like snake's eyes! Supposedly, this Timacuan sub-species and the nearby Mexican Bush Master are the largest poisonous snakes in the world and Bill Hass had both of them in his World famous Serpentarium. The night of the accident, he took his Luger, walked out to the pit and shot Cookie in the head. Needless to say I was quite nervous also, thinking of what might happen if that snake went through the crowd. Great memories. ``I can't complain. . It's a shame that everything is gone now. I've tried to keep up with him from time to time. Everyone sold them to the Serpentarium for $1.25/Ft, good money in those days. They all screamed, then everyone had a good laughed together! Furthermore, you shouldn't speak about how a parent should have kept a better eye on their dead son. During this time Haast met and married his second wife, Clarita Matthews. Several people on social media said the child was on the beach at the time watching a movie. it stirred interest faster than the key lime pie and local jelly signs. As he announced at the time, Bill killed the croc because he did not want her to become the inevitable freak show instead of a crocodile.Neither revenge nor stress induced fuzzy thinking was involved. The man who mesmerized generations of paying customers from 1947 to 1984 by extracting venom at his Miami Serpentarium as a spine-tingling South Florida attraction is dead. Name a deadly snake and Bill Haast has either tamed it or been bitten by it. It was a very low wall. That was South Dade, Florida, relatively free of the most venomous snakes because Bill Hass and the Serpentarium. Shaman Killed by Crocodile Horror Stories 812K subscribers Subscribe 27K Save 741K views 3 years ago Notice Age-restricted video (based on Community Guidelines) Almost yours: 2 weeks, on us. His contribution to antivenin science is unparalleled and earned him recognition throughout his life. May he live far past the hundreds. But Haast had detractors. ''From the first day I walked into the Miami Serpentarium, I knew that was for me,'' he said. Boy, 8, mauled to death by crocodile in front of horrified parents after being dragged underwater as he played. The Serpenlarium, widely known as a research fadlity as well as a zoo for snakes and reptiles, remained closed indefinitely while Mr. Haast and his Wife discussed what additional safety precautions to take. He bought a plot of land facing U.S. 1, south of Miami, then sold his house and started construction on the Serpentarium. He gathered 400 cobras and took his findings to a University of Miami researcher. He introduced himself as Col. Spencer, I introduced myself as "I'm Mark and could my brother Dick come too?" For Haast, the weekly shots paid off, helping him to survive 172 venomous snake bites. Mr. Haast fished it out with a long pole after the big croc took a bite of it. Worst time of my life!!! For inspiration and advice, he leaned on Haast. THE body of the two-year-old boy, Lane Graves, snatched by an alligator at a Disney resort has now been recovered. Four years ago, I got bit by a Malaysian pit viper, and that was the end of my right . Devastated villages shouted the name 'Dimas' in hope of the boy still being alive as the crocodile was hauled ashore. A rare survivor, he declared himself doing "very well, anxious to get back to work.". Very cool regular people with a very irregular life and lifestyle.loved them..they enriched my lifewould love to see how big the oaktree is now that grew up through their pool screen enclosure. I gathered from what he said that it would not bother him in the least were this variety of snake removed from its separate classification and returned to the larger taxon from which someone had extracted it. I gave Dr. Hasst an iguana that got too large for me to keep and from then on he let me come in for free.. Two men came to our house, & they had a hook on the end of a pole, & a cloth bag, & they soon had the brightly colored but deadly snake in tow. ( Because they wouldn't let me move here by myself.) A wealthy lawyer who killed his wife and son at close range has been sentenced in one of the most troubling cases the judge said he had seen. . It was a rattle snake. . He would tell us stories about going to Boy Scout Camp with this extraordinary man, Bill Hasst. I said yes, I got to feed his snakes white mice, met his daughter (she had a pet lion), used to catch snakes and sell them to Mr. Haast calls it one of the lowest points in his life. Dr. Haast met my pediatrician at Baptist Hospital in Miami. Authorities estimate there are between 1.3 million and 2 million alligators across the state. He made special trips, bringing back such perilous species as cobras and saw-scaled vipers. There, sitting at a desk was Bill Haast. VENOM `POSTER BOY' The medical establishment -- and the Food and Drug Administration -- never bought into Haast's enthusiasm for the lethal snake juice as treatment for multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis and Parkinson's disease. Television, a book, big crowds, all helped to build up Haast's image and popularity. I hope you live to 100 to prove snake venon is an anti aging wonder. Parents Don Julio and Margini Fernndez Flores were so traumatized by their son's death, they plan to move to Nicaragua to try and protect their other young children, aged between three and 16. I believe he gave them some of his blood with the anti-bodies and that saved their lives. I sure do remember Mr. Haast as I bought the 1969 GT500 Shelby that he once owned. Suddenly, he heard screaming and ran toward the commotion. After Bill sold the Serpentarium, our 12,000 sq.ft. Haast was also bitten by a green mamba. That was in 1971 and I kept that car until 3 years ago when I sold it for 35000.00 in pieces. Voted for the photo and the biographical info. She had given me some information on the Serpentarium and I got interested in Indigo Snakes. A 911 call was received at 9.16pm local time. It was an experiment, but having received his first venomous snake bite as a teenager, Haast was used to risks. I would take the rattlesnake skins and rub salt into them to try to preserve them. boy killed by crocodile at miami serpentarium. But I remember leaning over the small wall to look closer at that croc when my feet slipped and I pitched forward towards the pit. In his case, he claims the venom has helped him live a long and healthy life -- with the exception of his snakebitten hands. [4] As of 2008 he continued to have his wife inject him with small amounts of snake venom. The whole experience seemed to do the trick, as he never displayed such fear of snakes again after that. boy killed by crocodile at miami serpentarium. "Our unit wouldn't be around if it wasn't for him; he's the inspiration," said Al Cruz, the unit's founder, standing beneath the tall branches of a live oak that Haast had allowed to grow through his screened pool patio. Inside, the snake shows were pure drama with no frills, no fanfare, no drum roll, no silence please, no ladies and gentleman. Sheriff Demings confirmed there was a sign near the water warning people not to swim. "I am not going to stay here, because just as they protect those animals, they are capable of leaving the river to attack more people and the truth is that it is scary that something like this will happen again. As many families do, the Malaysian family had a get together with some friends. I remember a Coral snake bit and killed a man digging in his yard in Whispering Pines in 1965. I am wondering if that was the same pit the young boy had fallen into. We considered him the Patron Saint of Junkies in those days. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. I was a good friend with Bill Haast's grandson Willie, He and I would catch snakes and bring them to the Surpentarium, I also would go camping in the everglades with Willie and his sister pinkie and their mom and dad, we would swim in the water around gaters and catch snakes. Unless otherwise noted under the right bottom of the photo, all images are copyrighted by Don Boyd, Bill Haast and the Miami Serpentarium - recent news articles, SW 128th Street and South Dixie Highway, Dade County, Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet, Miami Area Tourist and Local ATTRACTIONS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view. The Serpentarium's landmark 35-foot-high, hooded, concrete-and-stucco cobra stuck out its forked tongue at motorists and arriving patrons on South Dixie Highway and Southwest 126th Street. NEW Police have found evidence a 12-year-old was killed in a crocodile attack in northern Australia. And modern medical researchers are proving him right snake venom fractions are becoming recognized as potent medicines. boy killed by crocodile at miami serpentarium Nice to see the photos again. #BreakingNews #Orlando pic.twitter.com/8AUeiXdmBk, Search crews at Grand Floridian Beach pic.twitter.com/wTCsxsJwNO, Search party is growing pic.twitter.com/AwpHtHwgXy. I visited the Serpentarium November 22, 1965 while on my Honeymoon with my wife Lynne. We visited the Serpentarium and it was an amazing experience that I remember vividly to this day. When we got home, she handed me a small travel bag that she had carried with her on board the airplane. It is unclear whether the attack was fatal. They had the best house! We watched Mr. Haast with fascination as he milked the snakes. The animal was of no harm to anyone other than the fool who would allow his self to fall in. Now the spotlight is on three other deaths that are linked to the case. America is still arguing today about whether the Cincinnati Zoo should have shot and killed Harambe, a 17-year-old male, Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida He agreed to chat only by telephone with a Miami Herald reporter. My parents stayed at the motel pool, while I was the first one thru the door at the Serpentarium that day. Does anybody on this herpetology board know either the author or title of a novel, published roughly 20 years ago. In the summer of 1972 I was bitten by a pygmy rattle snake in the middle of a subdivision in south Miami. BILL TOLD THE CROWD NOT TO WORRY, "IT'S ONLY CALCIUM". A witness told a journalist at the Orlando Sentinel they reported a sighting of an alligator to police prior to the attack on the toddler, but Sheriff Demings said he was unaware of the report. By then Cookie, the 12-foot, 2,000-pound crocodile, had the boy in its mouth. He said at that time if he lived to be 100 it would possibly prove that snake venom is anti aging. Lots of people like me. Even though the Serpentarium was there, some people still got bitten, and died from the poisonous snakes. Alexander DeMella, who was watching the events unfold from his Disney balcony, told news.com.au that resort staff and authorities had said no one is allowed on the beaches at this time. great childhood memories spent there with my family , i remember getting goose bumps when we would see the cobra statue. I have such respect for Mr. Haast and for all of his work. ``Funny, the very place I wanted to get away from, I now miss. We had a large clump of banana trees in our back yard, & she had called Mr. Haast to tell him that there was a coral snake down in the undergrowth of it, & could he please come & remove it? In 1980 we took my late husband who had ALS (Lou Gerhig's Disease) to the Miama Clinic where. For the first five years Bill, Clarita, and his son were the only staff. "I just have a curious nature," he said. It is unknown whether the signs mentioned anything about alligators crawling in the waters. He later received commendations from President Gerald Ford and Miami Mayor Stephen Clark. Before this, the crocodile had lived for 20 years in the pit without incident. Thank you, Dr. Haast, for all your good works and trailblazing in this still to be fully recognized work.and for the fascinating memories. Crowds cheered as he collected venom from the snakes in dramatic displays. His grey pleated linen trowsers were pressed and as spotless as his egyptian cotton White shirt, topped with a most stunning Pith Helment. The Serpentarium opened at the end of 1947, still not completed. National television shows hosted by Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and Johnny Carson invited him or featured him during visits to Miami. In the first chapter a bunch of young boys are headed to a swimming hole; one boy races ahead and dives in. I got excited thinking it was a new toy. CANCUN -- A 12-year-old boy who was bitten by a crocodile at a Mexican resort spoke to "Good Morning America" on Wednesday in his first television interview. I remember seeing an alligator gulping down whole chickens and being allowed to handle an Indigo snake after Mr. Haast's presentation. At the UM, Haast led in the testing of the serum on monkeys. IE 11 is not . I followed his instructions and he was right. I never forgot Mr. Haast and his snakes, and, to this day, I am not scared of snakes or any other animals. Every year we took a field trip there, and every year I looked forward to it. His dream of creating a snake sanctuary grew nearer. Access from your Country was disabled by the administrator. Behind him rose an 8-foot concrete cobra statue that once decorated the serpentarium. God bless Mr. Haas, and all the good he has done, on top of the lives he has saved through his bravery and research. No. Besides the mayor's key, they gave him a firefighter's helmet bearing the unit's name: Venom 1. Across the street, a Haast lived in a nice house. How did he get them through Customs? Keepers were forced to shoot and kill the 17-year-old gorilla named Harambe. When I was young I was always interested in snakes. Don Julio told the Mail Online: "The hardest thing for my wife was seeing the crocodile float with my son's body.". But its very rare and it really is a shock to us to see this happen.. The crocodile is suspected of eating a farmer who went missing in July in the town of Bunawan, and of killing a 12-year-old girl whose head was bitten off two years before. In 1965, Cobras in his Garden, a book about Haast's exploits, was published. "We know that there are crocodiles and burrows, but we don't have a notion or a pattern to work on.". All he did was yell ouch and that concludes the show for today. other sizes: small original auto previous | next Unless otherwise noted under the right bottom of the photo, all images are copyrighted by Don Boyd comment | share There was a "movie night" outside on the beach tonight Saying the alligator might have attacked the baby on the beach. While he was extracting venom from a small cobra, he was struck on the thumb and calmly told his wife that he was going to lie down for awhile. The boy and another friend decided to go . His take on the matter was generally to the effect that the placement of this variant of the common black racer into a separate subspecies status seemed dubious. However, we kept them because they made good pets. Originally, the shots immunized Haast against snake bites, an occupational hazard. It was not that far from us and yet we were not fearful. A small alligator, maybe 5 foot with tail had gotten loose and was wandering. He could not have been nicer to us and spent some time talking to us. brightcove.createExperiences (); The toddler who was snatched by an alligator at a Disney resort in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, died as a result of . And a bit crazy. In 1982 when I was twelve I moved from England to Hollywood, Fl with my family. Two-year-old Lane Thomas Graves had been playing in . I've outlived all my friends down there.'' MIAMI, Sept. 3 (UPI)A 6yearold boy tumbled into a crocodile pit at the Miami Serpentarium today and a 14 foot, 1,800pound African crocodile snapped its jaws around the child's middle and dragged him to his death in a small lagoon. Of course he would buy the rare Indigo snakes, because they could rear up and spread their neck like a Cobra, but were not poisonous. At first he believed his immunization to cobra venom would protect him from the krait venom, and continued with his regular activities for several hours. Today, a McDonald's and a shopping center sit where the Serpentarium once thrilled. Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney was helping the family. I was a child in Florida in the 60's and I saw many, many of Dr. Hasst's shows and remember being concerned the snakes might get away and come towards me of course they never did.. He placed a live, non-venomous snake into one of the supposedly empty boxes to be cleaned. I could see their fears fade as they got the nerve to touch a real snake and realize that is wasn't slimy. I recall the incident where the child died -- it was very tragic and Mr. Haast clearly felt terrible about it. We got a motel room across the road from the Serpentarium. I will forever carry fond memories of "Doc" and how he turned my life around. Nonetheless, the boy, who was battered and submerged, was killed. Source = Youtube. I'd fainted at the realization of a whole baby pig inside that snake! I remember those two huge crocs, one Nile and one American. Donated several snakes over the years also, mostly coral snakes from Opa Locka area. ''Failing at this is one of my biggest regrets,'' Haast said. MIAMI, Sept. 4 (UPI)A 12foot African crocodile that killed a 6yearold boy was killed today by the owner of the Miami Serpentarium, who pumped nine shots into it with a Luger. Haast is still trying to prove a point: He'll go to his grave believing venom can heal.