The incident occurred on the afternoon of July 25 in a village near Bettiah town, Bihar, while the boy, identified only by his first name, Govinda, was playing at home.

According to the child’s family, the cobra had slithered up and wrapped itself around the boy’s arm. In response, Govinda bit the snake, killing it, The Independent reported.

Govinda’s grandmother told the news outlet that the family noticed the snake in the child’s hand and “everyone rushed towards him, but by then he had already bitten and killed the snake on the spot.”

The boy fainted afterward and was rushed to a primary healthcare center for initial treatment, before being transferred to the town’s Government Medical College Hospital.

Speaking to Hindustanthe hospital’s Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Devikant Mishra, confirmed that the child had not shown any signs of venom poisoning and was now out of danger, although he remained under observation.