Bay Area Teen Survives Deadly Snake's Bite In Belize

AMERICAN CANYON (KPIX) -- Audrey Benton is back home in American Canyon after spending four weeks in a Florida hospital.

The 15-year-old was airlifted from Belize to Florida after she was bitten by one of the deadliest snakes alive -- the Fer-de-Lance.

Audrey was bit while the family was vacationing at a resort in Belize. She had trouble breathing after she was bitten then collapsed to the ground. Her father snapped a picture of the snake to show doctors, who were able to administer anti-venom almost immediately.

Ninety percent of those bitten by a Fer-de-Lance don't survive.

Audrey beat the odds. Now she's on the road to recovery.

"One day she can't skip, the next day she's skipping and everyone is amazed -- 'how can she do that'?" Audrey's mother Sarah Thompson told KPIX.

For now, Audrey merely recalls being in an accident and she is working hard on her speech and motor skills.

"I work on a lot of therapy so I can get back into the water and be on a water polo team," Audrey said.

Audrey has a long journey ahead of her but the signs are encouraging, as is her indomitable attitude.

"My friends are going to a concert in July -- it's going to be fun," she says.