Star of the National Geographic show “Snake Salvation” and Pentecostal Preacher Jamie Coots was fatally bit by snake last Saturday night.
He was famous for handling snakes and using this practice to prove his faith to God. He believed that God doesn’t kill people through snake bites. He strongly preached the following gospel:
Mark 16: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”Middlesboro police chief Jeff Sharpe said: ‘After examination and discussion of possible dangers if the wound was not treated, treatment and transport to the hospital was refused.’
As an outcome to this belief, Coots had refused to seek treatment for the bite. Middlesboro police chief Jeff Sharpe said: ‘After examination and discussion of possible dangers if the wound was not treated, treatment and transport to the hospital was refused.’
In an interview last year with ABC’s Nightline, he said he had previously suffered nine snakebites and had lost part of a finger as a result, however did not die from them.
The practice of snake-handling is illegal in the majority of US states but some religious people see it as a test of faith.
- http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/17/was-snake-handlers-death-preventable/?hpt=zite_zite3_featured
- http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/16/278132484/snake-handling-reality-tv-pastor-dies-after-snakebite