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Python Recovering After Surgery to Remove BBQ Tongs

A python owner in Adelaide sought help for his snake after it swallowed a pair of tongs while he was feeding it a rat.
An x-ray shows tongs wedged inside a python.
An x-ray shows tongs wedged inside a python.University of Adelaide @uniofadelaide
By Matthew Nighswander

A python in Australia got more than he bargained for when he swallowed the tongs his owner was using to feed him a rat.

The snake's owner quickly sought help from the University of Adelaide, where the X-ray above was taken. The barbecue tongs are clearly visible, along with the body of the rat at the front end of the tongs.

After weighing the options, Dr. Oliver Funnell decided surgery was required. "We were able to remove them quite easily once we got the big end out," he said.

The python is expected to make a full recovery. The rat wasn't so lucky.

The tongs bulge within the python.
The tongs bulge within the python.University of Adelaide @uniofadelaide
Matthew Nighswander

Matt Nighswander joined NBCNews.com as a multimedia producer in July 2012. Nighswander is part of the team responsible for selecting photos for the site and creating original content based on photography. Among his individual responsibilities is the Month in Space slideshow. Nighswander reports to James Collins, director of photography.

Nighswander joined NBCNews.com from MSN.com, where he was a lead homepage photo editor. 

Prior to his work at MSN, he was an international photo editor at The Associated Press and received an MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago.