Woman Finds Deadly Tiger Snake 'Slithering Up Her Leg' While Driving at 50 Mph on Freeway: 'State of Shock'

The incident occurred after the woman "felt something on her foot," according to authorities in Australia

A woman in Australia is recovering from the shock of finding a deadly snake in her car while driving on the freeway.

Authorities arrived to help the woman after they received reports of her “attempting to flag down passing vehicles” while walking barefoot along the Monash Freeway in Melbourne at around 10:40 a.m. local time on Saturday, Nov. 30, Victoria Police said in a statement.

The unidentified woman explained to police that she had been driving at 50 mph on the freeway when “she felt something on her foot,” before looking down “to find a deadly tiger snake slithering up her leg,” per the statement.

According to police, the woman “remarkably” managed to fend off the snake while driving and dodging traffic “before pulling over and leaping out of her car to safety.”

The woman was left “in a state of shock” afterward, police said. They added that she was checked over by paramedics for any bites afterward, which she did not appear to have.

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Tim Nanninga from Melbourne Snake Control was called in to handle the snake. He identified the reptile as the tiger snake, which is the third most venomous snake in Australia, according to Australian Geographic.

"Bites are fatal if untreated, causing pain in the feet and neck, tingling, numbness and sweating, followed by breathing difficulties and paralysis," according to Australian Geographic. "The venom also damages the blood and muscles, leading to renal failure."

The tiger snake is also responsible for the second-highest number of bites in the country per Australian Geographic, and is the fifth most venomous snake in the world, according to the Rainforest Trust.

“[It's] a miracle how she got off the road and safely parked the car and called [Victoria Police]," Nanninga told CNN affiliate 9 News. 

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"Normally when snakes are in cars they find a really nice little hidey hole and they can stay in for days and not come out, but we were lucky the snake moved along to the back of the car,” he explained, per ABC 17.

Passing motorists were "left in bewilderment" as Nanninga safely removed the tiger snake from the woman's vehicle, police said.

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Per 9 News, Nanninga urged in the event of anyone coming across a tiger snake to "stay calm, keep your distance."

"They're not going to chase after you, they're not out there to hurt you," he added.