Faith and Fatal Bites: The Story of Jamie Coots and Snakeโค Handling
Jamie coots,a Kentucky pastor โคfeatured in the National Geographic realityโฃ series “Snake Salvation,” died in February 2014 after being bitten by a rattlesnake during a church โservice. He was 42โ years old. Coots, a long-time practitionerโ of the controversial religious tradition of snake handling, refused medical treatment following the bite.
Coots believed,based onโ a passage in the Gospelโ of mark โ(Mark 16:17-18),that true believers were protected โfrom harm by โฃpoisonous snakes and other deadly substances ifโ they were “anointed by God.” He regularly handledโข venomous snakes,โ including copperheads, rattlesnakes, andโ cottonmouths, as a demonstration of faith. Despiteโค having suffered eight previous snake bites and losing part โฃof a fingerโ to venom, Cootsโ remained steadfast in his conviction.
Accordingโ to fellow preacher Cody Winn, Coots was bitten on the โhand after briefly droppingโข a rattlesnake โand thenโค pickingโ it up again.Emergency services were โขcalledโ to the scene, but were initially told โคCoots had already returned home. Upon โคcontacting him at his residence, paramedics found Cootsโฃ refusing medical attention.โ He was later pronounced dead when emergency services returned later thatโค evening.
Coots’ โขson, Cody, stated that his father had โฃalways recovered from previous bites, typically resting andโ praying for healing. This time,though,the bite proved fatal.
Coots’โ practice of snake handling had previously brought him โintoโ conflict withโ the law. In 2013,โข he โขreceived a year of probation forโ transporting venomous snakes into Tennessee. He was โขalsoโค arrested inโฃ 2008 forโค possessing 74 snakes atโ his home.
Nationalโค Geographic, which documented Coots and his congregation in “Snake Salvation,” released a statement following โขhis death. Spokeswoman Stephanie Montgomery noted the network was “constantly struck โขby his devout religiousโ convictions” โขand expressed sympathy forโข his family. The statement also highlighted the show’s intention to provide context for this unique โand often misunderstood form ofโ worship.
The practice of snake handling, originating over a century ago, continues in isolated communities, primarily in Kentucky and โWest Virginia. Pastors practicing this tradition are typicallyโ private and restrict access to โขtheir โคservices. Some observers, like Professor Ralph Hood of โคthe University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, believe Coots’ death may ironically strengthen the resolve of those who continue โthe practice, viewing him as a martyr for his faith.