{
  "id": 601604,
  "title": "High school football player in Arkansas practices with a venomous snake in his helmet",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/high-school-football-player-in-arkansas-practices-with-a-venomous",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-11T21:10:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/uncategorized/2026/08/11/high-school-football-player-in-arkansas-practices-with-a-venomous-snake-in-his-helmet"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Maumelle, Ark. (AP) — A high school football player in Arkansas discovered a venomous snake inside his helmet during practice last week. The 2-foot cottonmouth snake was found behind some padding and proved difficult to remove from the helmet. Police officers had to pour water into the snake to force it out and into a bag. Animal services technicians arrived soon after and identified the snake as a cottonmouth, one of the most venomous snakes in Arkansas. The player, who did not panic, merely switched to a different helmet and resumed practice. The incident prompted the head coach to remind his team to inspect equipment thoroughly before use, to guard against potential hazards, both small and large.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "High school football player found snake in helmet during practice.",
    "Police used water to remove 2-foot cottonmouth snake from helmet.",
    "Coach warned team to inspect equipment for hazards before use."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Luv FM High School Debate: T.I AMASS advances as IBASS makes impressive debut",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/luv-fm-high-school-debate-t-i-amass-advances-as-ibass-makes",
        "published": "2026-08-11T19:44:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "High school football player in Arkansas practices with a venomous snake in his helmet",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/high-school-football-player-in-arkansas-practices-with-a-venomous-605455",
        "published": "2026-08-11T21:53:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}