A Karnataka man’s stunt with three snakes ended badly when a snake attacked him. Maz Sayed, a snake enthusiast from Sirsi, was filmed handling three cobras, which many experts have described as “terrible”. They were seen bowing to the snakes, pulling their tails and moving their hands around – all gestures the cobras could perceive as threats and react aggressively.

Unfortunately for Mr. Sayeed – whose YouTube channel is full of similar videos – that’s exactly what happened. His most recent stunt ended on a terrifying note when suddenly a snake struck him. Footage that has gone viral online shows the snake lunging at the stuntman and biting his knee. The reptile refused to let go, even as the shocked man tried to pull it away.

Sharing the video on Twitter, Indian Forest Service officer Sushant Nanda criticized the snake-handler. “This is a terrifying way to handle a cobra. The snake sees the movements as a threat and follows the movement. At times, the reaction can be fatal,” he wrote.