Watch as surfer takes his pet python for ride on waves in Australia. ‘Local legend’
“Hang loose” took on a different meaning as a surfer in Australia glided along the waves with an unusual passenger: his pet python.
The snake was seen hanging loosely from Higor Fuiza’s neck as he surfed the swells of the Gold Coast, drone video shared by skymonkey_5 on TikTok and Instagram shows. The videographer described the duo as a “local legend” and “his pet python.”
Fuiza told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Shiva, his pet bredli carpet python, is 3 years old and has been surfing over 10 times.
The video shows Fuiza walking to the water with the snake across his shoulder, chest and surfboard. As he catches several waves, the reptile’s shadowy silhouette is visible against the blue water.
“I always took her to the beach and she loved to be in the water swimming, so one day I decided to take her out for a surf and she loved it,” Fuiza told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
For one swell, the snake perched on Fuiza’s right arm, head sticking out, the video shows. Another time, she hangs from his neck and stretches to his thigh. The scaly pet is roughly half of her owner’s body length.
When surfing together, Fuiza doesn’t worry about losing Shiva in a fall because “she holds my neck really tight” and “knows how to swim,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The video also shows Fuiza and Shiva sitting on the surfboard. Shiva slithers across her owner’s head and shoulders. At one point she ventures partially into the water.
Back on land, Shiva sits perched on the surfboard as Fuiza carries it across the sand, the video shows.
“Looks like he has a great connection to his python friend, very sweet,” one Instagram user commented on the video.
Several other Instagram users commented that surfing with a python was a “guaranteed” way to make sure no other surfers dropped in on the waves.
Fuiza did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on Sept. 5.
The Gold Coast is near Brisbane and about 525 miles northeast of Sydney.
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