Woolworths shopper finds python snake in the spice section
A woman shopping at Woolworths in Glenorie says she was looking in the spice aisle and her face was suddenly 20cm away from a three-metre-long python.
Speaking to 7NEWS.com.au, the shopper – Helaina Alati - said: “I was browsing and turned to my left and he had come out and his face was about 20cm from mine, just looking at me.”
“It was almost like he was asking me to take him outside!
“I just happened to be the one that found it.
“He must have been there for at least a few hours. He was sort of hidden behind the spices and I didn’t see him at first.
As luck would have it, Alati is a former volunteer snake catcher, so she offered to rescue the slithery fellow.
“It was super mellow, not aggressive at all. I’m guessing he came down from the ceiling. He was about 10ft (3 metres) long!” she said.
“I’m glad I’m the one that found him, most people would have freaked out!” she added.
“I told the staff I used to be a volunteer snake catcher so I grabbed my snake bag and relocated him into the bush.”
Most shoppers at Woolworths would’ve have been so calm to find a three-metre python in the spice aisle of their local supermarket, but Alati said there was nothing to worry about.
“He was so relaxed and non-aggressive,” she said.
“Don’t want to demonise these beautiful animals anymore!”
Alati bundled the python into a material bag and released the snake safely to the surrounding bushland shortly after.
A spokesperson for Woolworths told 7NEWS.com.au the matter was dealt with calmly and safely.
“A slippery and rare customer was spotted in the spice aisle of our Glenorie store yesterday morning,” the spokesperson said.
“Once it was sighted, our team members reacted quickly and calmly to cordon off the area for the safety of customers.
“A snake catcher removed the slithery customer, who was released safely into bushland shortly after.”
It’s still unknown as to how the snake came to be inside the store but it’s believed Woolworths has animal control measures in place and the Glenorie store has done some checks of these measures.
Photo: 7NEWS.com.au