Animal store owner crushed by python

The owner of a reptile store in Newport, Ohio, was recovering after police pried off a 20-foot python that was wrapped around his head, neck and torso, crushing him on Monday.

Two officers pulled the the 125-pound snake off Terry Wilkens, owner of Captive Born Reptiles, police chief Tom Collins said.

Wilkens was not breathing when officers freed him, Collins said, but he resumed breathing before he was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Collins said the victim appeared to be doing O.K. at the hospital and was talking.

The call came around 11 a.m. and Lt. Gregory Ripberger and Sgt. Daron Armberg were at the store within minutes, Collins said.

"It was only by the grace of God that one of the officers knew how to deal with snakes," Collins said.

Ripberger grabbed the snake by the head and worked to uncurl it off Wilkens' body. Collins and other officers pulled Wilkens by his legs to free him.

The snake had begun to coil around Ripberger's arm before the officers were able to return it to its enclosure.

"It was a horrific event," Collins said.

Collins said Wilkens was feeding the snake when it latched onto his arm.

Gary Collins, who owns Galaxie Skate Shop, located three doors down, said Captive Born Reptiles has only been in business for two months and Wilkens was the owner.

Collins said a woman who was learning how to care for the snake called 911.

Pythons are a variety of constrictor, which kill their prey by wrapping coils of their bodies around the prey and squeezing, according to the San Diego Zoo.

The snake  was being held at the store. Police were working with animal control to determine if the animal should be removed from the shop.