Animal store owner crushed by python

The man who runs a reptile store on Monmouth Street in Newport, Ky., appears to be recovering after officers pried off a 20-foot python that was wrapped around his head, neck and torso, crushing him on Monday.

Two Newport officers pulled the the 125-pound snake off the man at Captive Born Reptiles, police chief Tom Collins said.

There was blood everywhere and the man was not breathing when officers were trying to free him, Collins said, but he did resume breathing before he was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Collins said the victim appears to be doing okay at the hospital and is even talking.

Collins said they got the call about 11 a.m. and Lt. Gregory Ritberger and Sgt. Daron Armberg were at the store within minutes.

"It was only by the grace of God that one of the officers knew how to deal with snakes," Collins said.

Armberg grabbed the snake by the head and the two officers uncurled it off the man's body.

Collins said the man was feeding the snake when it latched onto his arm.

Owner Gary Collins, who owns Galaxie Skate Shop, three doors down, said Captive Born Reptiles has only been in business for two months and that the man who was attacked was the owner of the store.

The store's website lists two locations, one at 633 Monmouth St. and the other in Columbus.

Gary Collins said the man was with a woman who was learning how to care for it. And that woman called 911.

Pythons are a variety of constrictor, which kill their prey by wrapping coils of its body around the prey and squeezing, according to the San Diego Zoo website.