Florida Teen Was Caught Showing Off In Front Of His Friends When THIS Happened...

#1 He Was Caught Kissing A Cotton Mouth Snake

The fear of snakes is a common phobia which we all have (well most of us) from around the world, but one Florida young teenager has made a habit of befriending the slithery, and oftentimes dangerous, creatures. A regular with snake handling, 18-year-old Austin Hatfield has received his share of minor injuries and bites from the sharp and fanged reptiles, but he hadn't measured grave consequences of kissing snakes until he was bitten in the face by a deadly viper Cottonmouth, also known as a Water Moccasin.

#2 Florida Boys & Their Toys

Austin, who lives in Ruskin, Florida, is a country boy at heart. Like many teenagers, he likes to take up hobbies, albeit his could make your skin crawl. Sharing his passion for snakes with the world, his Facebook is swarming with photos of him holding, handling, and kissing a variety of snakes.

#3 Young & Fearless

He's said to have often bragged about how many snakes he's kissed and would often capture the wild creatures and keep them. That was the case with the highly venomous, 4-foot long Cottonmouth snake that he was keeping in a pillowcase. After finding the snake in his neighborhood, Austin figured he'd found new pet, not knowing the severity of his decision.

#4 A Friend Remembers the Panic

The teenager's best friend Jason Belcher recalls the frightening moment when Austin ran into his girlfriend's kitchen in a panic. "We was sitting in the kitchen and he ran out of the room saying ‘hospital, hospital. Now, now,'" he said.

According to Jason, earlier that day Austin was gloating that he had kissed the snake 12 times, but Jason noted, "The 13 wasn't a lucky one," adding, "He kisses it right on the head. Right on the mouth. He's not afraid of death."

#5 A Different Story

While Jason says that the bite came from a fatal kiss, the Tampa Tribune reports a different story. According to them, Austin was asleep in his girlfriend's home when the snake escaped from it's pillow prison. It made its way across a slumbering Austin and later onto the ground. When Austin realized it was gone and tried to grab it, the snake bit him on the lip with dire consequences.

#6 Life or Death

The result was the same for either story; Austin had to be rushed to the hospital immediately. He was admitted to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition and despite there being an anti-venom for Cottonmouths, no one knew how much venom had already been absorbed through his bloodstream. While his life laid in the balance, the subsequent swelling of his face and body was a shock to all.

#7 He Shared His Hospital Photos

Sharing a photo of himself in the hospital, Austin was unrecognizable. His face was enlarged and his eyes swollen shut. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials say that he's lucky to be alive. The managing director at Tampa General Hospital's Poison Center, Dr. Alfred Aleguas, said that they get a number of snake bite cases every year, mostly from people who take it upon themselves to handle them. He said, "Basically, if you don't fool around with it, it's not going to bite you."

Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse warned residents that they should be on the lookout because snakes are more active in warm weather. Because it isn't safe to handle wild snakes on your own, they do offer professional trappers that will come and remove snakes for anyone who calls for help.

Austin may have survived the near-fatal nip, but he has legal worries to look forward to.

#8 Against the Law

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are investigating Austin's case because in the state of Florida, you must obtain a license permitting you to handle, own, or house Cottonmouth snakes. As Austin didn't have a state license, it was illegal for him to keep one as a pet, and he could face possible charges. Gary Morse added, "On occasion, we get someone who has possessed a snake illegally and then there's some sort of issue with it."

#9 No More Trouble

The last thing Austin needs is another run in with the law, seeing as how he was previously arrested on charges of grand theft auto last year. If found to be at fault illegally capturing and possessing a Cottonmouth, he could face fines up to $50,000. There is a silver lining, however. He's alive! And expected to make a full recovery

#10 Good & Evil

A Cottonmouth bite isn't meant to just stingit is meant to kill. The venom attacks the red blood cells, preventing the blood from clotting. What doesn't kill you can permanently damage muscle tissue or cause internal bleeding, excruciating pain around the bite, and even the loss of a limb. Their venom is being used for the greater good by science, however. Doctors often use the venom to treat people with certain blood disorders.

Hopefully Austin learned his lesson with this, but when you're passionate about something, it's hard to let it go, even after staring death in the face.