Man bitten by rattlesnake in California required 54 vials of antivenom to survive

A routine visit to his parents' home in California turned into a life-threatening medical emergency for an Idaho man after he was bitten by a rattlesnake and ultimately required 54 vials of antivenom—an exceptionally rare amount—to survive.According to SFGATE, Chris Howarth was visiting family in Oroville, Northern California, in May when he stepped into the backyard to check a water line. At first, he thought he had brushed against a thorny plant. Moments later, he looked down and realized he had been bitten by a rattlesnake. A rare snakebite that quickly turned criticalHowarth was bitten twice, but one of the snake's fangs is believed to have punctured a vein, allowing the venom to spread rapidly through his bloodstream. Within a short time, he developed severe symptoms, including swelling, a numb tongue and difficulty breathing.