A Colorado man died after being bitten by his pet Gila monster, a rare occurrence if the venom proves to be the cause, according to authorities.
Christopher Ward, 34, was hospitalized shortly after the Feb. 12 incident involving one of his two pet Gila monsters, said Lakewood Police Department spokesman John Romero on Tuesday. He was placed on life support and passed away on Friday.
Officials from the Jefferson County coroner’s office declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding Ward’s death, including whether tests had determined if the venom was the cause or if other medical factors were involved.
Following the incident, Ward’s girlfriend surrendered the lizard named Winston and another named Potato to Lakewood animal control officer Leesha Crookston and other officers. According to Crookston’s report, Ward’s girlfriend described hearing concerning sounds and discovered Winston attached to Ward’s hand.
Ward began exhibiting symptoms immediately, including vomiting and loss of consciousness, the report stated. He was subsequently placed on life support, and doctors declared him brain-dead within days.
According to the animal control officer’s report, Ward’s girlfriend informed officers that they acquired Winston from a reptile exhibition in Denver in October and Potato from a breeder in Arizona in November. Despite Gila monsters being illegal in Lakewood, she expressed a desire to remove them from her residence promptly.