A DEADLY snake that bit a man outside Myer's CBD store remains at large after a catcher was unable to find it.

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http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...732-661,00.html

The 29-year-old man was emptying cardboard into a bin in an alley off Little Bourke St at 9.30am when the brown snake leapt forward and struck him.

Paramedic Heidi Taylor said the snake bit the man on the finger, hanging on for a few seconds before retreating back into the bin.

Myer staff were put on alert as the man was rushed to St Vincent's hospital, where he will remain overnight for observation.

A St Vincent's spokesman said the man received two puncture wounds from the snake bite, but was not poisoned by what was later determined to be a brown snake.

Ms Taylor said the snake eventually let go, allowing the man to phone an ambulance.

"He was surprisingly calm," Ms Taylor said.

"I’d be petrified, but he was calm."

She said bystanders applied first aid before paramedics arrived, immobolised his arm, gave him oxygen and monitored his heart.

A professional snake catcher spent more than two hours searching for the snake before calling off the hunt.

Myer spokesman Damian Glass said customers were not put at risk by the unwanted guest.

"We locked the area down and immediately called the appropriate authority to come and investigate the area and hopefully remove what caused the bite,’’ he said.

"`Where it took place was actually outside the store … it certainly wasn’t anywhere near the shop floor or sales floor and customers would not have even known anything had happened and there was certainly no risk to them at any stage."

Mr Glass said Myer was satisfied that the area was clear of the snake, but would keep it clear for the remainder of the day.

"Given the nature of the beast, if it actually is a snake, they move on pretty quickly," he said.

[sidenote]
A worker checks under the compactor near Myer after a snake bite this morning. Picture: Trevor Pinder [/sidenote]