A pastor known for handling snakes and featuring on reality TV met his demise after being bitten by a rattlesnake and declining medical help. Jamie Coots, hailing from Kentucky, believed that as long as believers were anointed by God, the serpents would not harm them. Despite losing part of a finger and witnessing others succumb to snake bites, Coots was resolute in his conviction to handle poisonous snakes as an expression of his faith.

Coots’ faith was based on a passage from Mark’s gospel that speaks about believers being able to handle serpents without harm. Unfortunately, in February 2014, during a church service, Coots was bitten on the hand by a rattlesnake. Although an ambulance was called, Coots had already left for home, refusing medical treatment. Later that day, emergency services returned to his residence and found him deceased.

Witnesses reported that Coots had initially dropped the snake but picked it up again, leading to the fatal bite. His son shared that despite being bitten multiple times before, his father had always recovered. Coots’ death, which occurred while following his beliefs, is likely to inspire others to continue the practice of snake handling.

Following the incident, a spokesperson from National Geographic, where Coots had appeared on the show “Snake Salvation,” commended his unwavering faith despite the risks he faced. The tradition of snake handling, also observed in West Virginia for over a century, is usually shrouded in secrecy, with pastors maintaining exclusivity during their services.