Jamie Coots was a snake handling preacher from Middlesboro, Kentucky. He'd previously appeared in a show entitled Snake Salvation which tells the story of Pentecostal preachers who defy the law and use serpents as part of their religious services. The snake handling is practised as a test of faith, with the belief that true believers will not be harmed.
Following this philosophy he used snakes in his preaching. As he told ABC's Nightline last year snakes had bitten him nine times ,costing him a part of his finger. But that's a small sacrifice for faith. He also notably stated "If the Bible told me to jump out of an airplane, I would".
But on saturday, he performed his last ever snake-handling routine, recieving a tenth snakebite. Emergency services were called, and on arriving at the church they were told he'd gone home. Of course when they got to his home he refused treatment. Whether he refused because he believed that his faith would protect him or some other reason we'll never know, as he later died as a result of the bite.
Darwin award?
Darwin award?
Ari Carrington