The development of the Taipan Antivenom – An Australian story from Far North Queensland

The development of the taipan antivenom in Australia is a unique story, centred in Far North Queensland. It is infused with idealism and heroism. The taipan is one of the world's deadliest snakes. A live specimen of the coastal taipan was not captured until 1950, and the antivenom only became available in 1955. Until then a bite from the coastal taipan was universally fatal. Kevin Budden a snake enthusiast was bitten in the process of capturing the specimen. Budden extracted a promise from those around him that the snake would not be killed but be sent to the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in Melbourne for milking. From this courageous act, the antivenom was developed and many lives subsequently saved. The first use of the taipan antivenom was on a boy in Cairns. He survived and grew up to become an anaesthetist.