South-Carolina
South Carolina man bitten by world’s most venomous snake that he was keeping as pet
A South Carolina man is battling for his life in a hospital after he was bitten by an inland taipan — the most venomous snake in the world — in his home on Friday.
According to Reptile Magazine, the man, who was known for posting videos with the exotic venomous snakes in his collection, was free handling the snake when it bit him. The site said he posted a video handling the snake earlier in the day and claiming he could control its movement.
“I can control his turn,” he said in the video. “There’s no need to be so scared of him.”
WBTW identified the man as Jeffrey Leibowitz, and said that a search of his property later turned up 14 snakes and a pet cat. Among the venomous snakes taken from his home, the site said, was a green mamba, two gaboon vipers, a fer-de-lace, a death adder, an eastern diamondback rattlesnake, two other adult rattlesnakes of unknown species, to black forest cobras, two neotropical rattlesnakes, a small rattlesnake (species unknown) and the taipan.
Jeff Camper, a biologist and snake specialist at Francis Marion University, told the site the snake has a “very, very dangerous, potent venom,” and that one bite could “kill up to 100 people.”
WBTW said antivenom was flown in from Florida to help treat Leibowitz.
“His body is probably going to want to shut down relatively soon,” Camper told the site. “My understanding is that he’s on a respirator, and that’s what’s needed for the patient to be able to continue breathing, as his diaphragm is likely paralyzed.
“He may have long-lasting or permanent damage to various organs.”
“Taipan envenomations are incredibly dangerous and just about the worst thing to be bitten by,” University of Queensland Australia Associate Professor Bryan Fry wrote on Facebook. “That is because taipans are specialists upon very dangerous prey animals such as long-haired rats. Mammals quite capable of severely injuring or even killing a snake predator. So they have evolved strategies to absolutely nuke their very dangerous prey. Giving it no chance of retaliating.”
WBTW said that none of the zoos or reptile areas nearby would take the animals “due to unknown health and environmental concerns such as their living conditions and potential illnesses.” It said a family member signed a voluntary surrender form, giving the snakes over to Florence police for euthanasia.
Michigan State football made the decision to part ways with Jonathan Smith on Sunday afternoon, and in turn, are going to have to fight to keep the 2026 recruiting class together.
Some recruits have made it known that they are still committed to the Spartans, and still plan to sign, while others are leaving the door open to other schools contacting them, while staying committed.
One of those commits is Jeremiah Favorite, a Bolling Springs (SC) native. He is a 5-foot-11, 185 pound cornerback that ranks as a 3-star prospect according to 247Sports.
Favorite initially chose the Spartans over Indiana, Oklahoma State and Wake Forest, but held 13 power conference offers. He committed in late June.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
Dabo Swinney extended some empathy for rival coach Shane Beamer after Clemson took down South Carolina 28–14 on Saturday. The game marked the disappointing resolution of the Gamecocks’ season, which saw them finish 4–8.
South Carolina went into the 2025 season ranked No. 13 and coming off a promising 9–4 campaign a year ago. They proved unable to build off those efforts, instead doubling their loss total from 2024 and failing to qualify for a bowl game. Their season culminated with a loss to their in-state rivals, only adding to the sour taste this year has produced.
After the game, Swinney was seen extending support to Beamer’s family, sharing a hug with his wife and son.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Shane and what he’s done here,” Swinney said after the game. “My heart hurts for him and Emily because I’ve been on the other side of it. But I’m proud of our guys.”
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Swinney also stuck up for Beamer by recalling some of the ups and downs his own Clemson teams have undergone during his tenure. “All I can tell you, Shane’s good football coach, better person, and he cares,” Swinney said. “I think these are reactionary games where you can really overreact. I lost five in a row, and we were really good teams. And again, we had 15 turnovers to their three. And that was a bad run. But we were a good team, and they were a good team, but you hang in. I’m glad that Clemson people didn’t give up on me.”
Dabo Swinney was asked about what his message would be to South Carolina fans frustrated with Shane Beamer’s first five seasons in Columbia: “I’m glad Clemson people didn’t give up on me.” pic.twitter.com/louYaKVz4Y
— Clemson Sports (@ClemsonSports) November 29, 2025
Beamer addressed his team’s shortcomings as well on Saturday following their loss. He said earlier this month that next year South Carolina will be tuning in to the College Football Playoff rankings show to see where they land, and has doubled down that next year will prove much more successful.
“I hate that we’ve gone through this,” Beamer said. “I hate it for the seniors that don’t come back. But I can one billion percent promise you this. When we have a hell of a season in 2026 and when I’m doing this press conference after the Clemson game next year and we finished a regular season because of the success that we’re going to have next season, I know we will. We’re going to look back at this season and say, ‘It sucked going through it, but because of what we went through in ’25, it led us to what we just did in ’26.’”
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The Palmetto Bowl has arrived once again, and Clemson and South Carolina are set to close out the 2025 regular season in a rivalry that rarely disappoints. The Tigers enter the matchup at 6–5 after securing their 21st straight bowl appearance with a convincing win over Furman, a game where Cade Klubnik threw two touchdowns to Antonio Williams and the offense piled up more than 450 total yards. South Carolina, sitting at 4–7, is coming off its strongest performance of the year after a 51–7 rout of Coastal Carolina behind LaNorris Sellers’ four-touchdown effort.
Today marks the 122nd meeting between the two programs, with Clemson holding the overall edge but the Gamecocks winning two of the last three. The Tigers, however, have dominated recent trips to Williams-Brice Stadium, taking five straight in Columbia, including a 16–7 victory back in 2023.
With both teams looking to close a turbulent season on a high note, all eyes turn to Columbia for one final regular-season stage. We’ll have updates, big plays, momentum shifts, and everything you need as the action unfolds live from Williams-Brice Stadium.
Clemson as the underdog
The Tigers are underdogs today. Something we’re not very used to in this rivalry of late.
Going out in a high note
To be honest, this might be more important than winning a final bowl game for these seniors. It definitely is. They need to show up today.
How to Watch
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of ClemsonTigers news and notes, plus opinions
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