CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Secretary of State candidate and former House of Delegates member Doug Skaff says he’ll be hospitalized at least through the weekend after being bitten by two copperhead snakes while removing campaign signs.
Skaff, who provided an update from his hospital bed at CAMC Friday, said he’s still in a lot of pain. He was bitten four times Wednesday — three times on the calf of his left leg and once on the small toe of his right foot.
“It feels like you have a cramp that won’t go away, and someone is stabbing you with a fork. It’s still got throbbing pain throughout my left leg. I can’t put any pressure on my feet. They’re swollen as heck,” he said on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Skaff was picking up his signs with his 7-year-old son along U.S. Route 119 near Danville in Boone County. He said one of the snakes wouldn’t let go of his leg.
“It was definitely a copperhead. The first snake looked like a normal size snake and then there was a baby one that kind of latched on to me. I had to shake it loose,” Skaff said.
Doug Skaff trying to keep a positive attitude after being bitten three times by copperheads while removing campaign signs. pic.twitter.com/IdiQDwk7vl
— Hoppy Kercheval (@HoppyKercheval) May 16, 2024
Skaff said he still has a lot of swelling and that doctors are monitoring his progress. He said it’s unknown if there will be permanent muscle damage.
“It’s almost like a balloon ready to pop. It’s stretching the skin so bad,” he said.
Skaff, a former minority leader in the House, was defeated in Tuesday’s election in his run for Secretary of State.
Skaff said he’s thankful for the support and advised candidates and others who are out removing campaign signs to be careful of poisonous snakes.
“Obviously if you see a snake, don’t get close. You never know if it’s poisonous or not. It could’ve been a lot worse and could’ve taken my life if it was really bad,” he said.