Egyptian cobra bites Pretoria woman

A woman is in a serious but stable condition after she was bitten by an Egyptian cobra in Jakkalsdans, Pretoria on Thursday morning, paramedics said.

The woman got out of bed and walked to switch on the lights and was bitten on her way back, Netcare 911 spokesman Jeffrey Wicks said.

"While walking back to bed she was bitten by the one metre-long snake, which had been lying near the bed."

Wicks said when paramedics arrived she was in a serious condition and in a considerable amount of pain.

She was stabilised on the scene and taken to hospital, Wicks said.

The snake was killed and taken to the hospital to be identified.