A vacation in Egypt turned into a nightmare after a tourist was fatally bitten by a snake during what was supposed to be a lighthearted hotel show.
A 57-year-old man died after being bitten—reportedly by a cobra—while attending a snake performance in Hurghada, a popular Red Sea resort destination. The incident happened in early April as the man watched the show with three family members.
According to reports, the performance allowed tourists to interact with the snakes—holding them and even draping them around their necks. But things took a dangerous turn when a snake charmer allegedly allowed one of the reptiles to crawl up the man’s pant leg.
Moments later, the snake bit him.
Authorities say the man quickly began showing signs of severe poisoning before going into cardiac arrest. Emergency responders attempted to revive him and rushed him to a hospital, but he later died from his injuries.
Investigators in Germany, where the man was from, are now looking into the circumstances surrounding the death. Officials say the case remains open, and while the snake charmer has not been singled out as a suspect, all possibilities are being examined. Toxicology results are still pending.
The tragedy has once again put a spotlight on safety concerns in Hurghada, a destination known for its beaches but also linked to several high-profile incidents involving tourists.
In December 2024, a 48-year-old Italian man was killed by a tiger shark while snorkeling off Egypt’s coast. The attack happened near a resort in Marsa Alam as he swam with a friend just yards from shore. His friend managed to escape, but the victim was fatally mauled.
Just months earlier, in June 2023, a 23-year-old Russian tourist was also killed by a tiger shark in Hurghada after being dragged underwater in a horrifying attack witnessed by beachgoers.
And more recently, in March, a tourist submarine sank in the same area after diving with its hatches still open, killing six people—including two children—while dozens of others were rescued.