Hong Kong woman grapples 4.5m python to save pet dog

A Hong Kong woman kicked and punched a 4.5 metre (15 foot) Burmese python to wrest free her pet dog after the snake wrapped itself around it.

Catherine Leonard grappled with the python after it attacked Poppy during a walk in the Sai Kung country park.

Ms Leonard said: "I'm not sure exactly what I did but I kicked it and I tried to pull Poppy free. The snake was twisted around her."



"Somehow Poppy managed to get away and the python slithered away. It was all over in about a minute."

Ms Leonard said she was "shaken afterwards and really scared".

"If I'd had the chance to think about it, I wouldn't have done what I did, but I hear the dog in distress and I just waded in there."