KUALA LUMPUR — A 23-year-old snake charmer with four years of experience died after being bitten by a king cobra during a performance, a report said Sunday.

R. Anbarasan, was participating in a 10-day trade fair in neighbouring Indonesia's Batam island when the deadly incident happened, the New Sunday Times reported.

Without warning

P. Sivakumar, a member of the troupe said the victim was trying to coax the snake out of the box.

"When the snake refused, Anbarasan pulled its tail and placed the cobra on the floor. However, without warning, the snake bit his left hand," he said.

Anbarasan was rushed to a local hospital but died three hours later, Sivakumar said.