Cops escort snake catcher

Metro police pulled over Tyrone Ping for using his phone while driving but when they heard the unusual circumstances of his journey, they escorted him through the streets of Sea Point instead.

The purpose of my Ping’s journey? To catch a Puff Adder at a block of flats.

“I was on my way to Sea Point to catch the snake and my phone was not connecting to the carplay and I picked up my phone and the next thing I heard a siren,” said Mr Ping.

Mr Pings YouTube video, which showed the police escorting him to the apartment complex on the Atlantic seaboard, where he caught the snake, quickly gained popularity.

“I explained to the officer why I was on my phone. I was checking the directions, and the officer was understanding. The next thing he escorts me to the complex with the blue lights on, my car is not the fastest but we got there quickly whereas, if I was alone it would have taken me longer, they also didn’t give me a fine, they were really helpful,” he said.

Mr Ping says that it was a simple task to capture the Puff Adder, which was less than 30 centimetres in length.

“I wasn't expecting the call as snakes are not around at this time of the year so I think this was the last catch until the summer season comes. It was fairly easy to catch and release the tiny Puff Adder back into its natural habitat,” he said.