A 5-ft long snake launched itself towards an unsuspecting man and bit him on the face in a terrifying moment captured by a doorbell camera.
Jerel Heywood was visiting a friend when the bullsnake suddenly lunged towards him and sank its fangs into his skin.
In the shocking video which has gone viral online, Mr Heywood shouts “Ouch, f***, take me to the hospital" as he clutches his bloodied face and stumbles into friend Rodney Copeland's home.
As Mr Heywood was taken to hospital for urgent treatment, Mr Copeland's neighbour rushed over and beat the snake to death with a hammer.
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Mr Heywood feared the snake - which attacked while it was wrapped around a porch light - was venomous, but it turned out that it was not.
He was given antibiotics and sent home from hospital following Sunday's incident in the US city of Lawton, Oklahoma.
The doorbell video shows Mr Heywood opening the screen door when the snake suddenly lunges at him.
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He has no time to react as it bites him on the face near his right eye, and then retreats.
Mr Heywood told CNN his first thought was: "I got bit by a snake. Didn't know what kind it was. Have to get to the hospital."
Mr Copeland told the broadcaster he watched in horror as Mr Heywood stumbled inside and screamed as he held his hand to his face.
The homeowner added: "I was in shock. That could've been anyone of us."
Mr Copeland and his wife took their friend to the hospital.
Mr Heywood said afterwards: "No stitches, thankfully, but they cleaned me up pretty good. I am on antibiotics."
The snake was killed by Mr Copeland's neighbour, who rushed over after hearing Mrs Copeland's screams.
The neighbour knocked the snake off the porch light and beat it to death with a hammer.
Mr Copeland said he has never found a snake in his home before, and he believes this one was taking refuge from recent downpours.
Bullsnakes are non-venomous and usually measure 4-6ft in length.
They are yellowish with a series of black, brown, or reddish-brown blotches down the back, and are often mistaken for rattlesnakes due to their appearance and defensive behaviour, according to the US National Park Service (NPS).
"When disturbed, it will coil up, hiss loudly, and vibrate its tail against the ground, producing a rattling sound," the NPS said.
They live in burrows and their diet consists of small rodents.
