A CHURCH youth worker told today how he frantically fought off one of the world's deadliest snakes - with a pillow!

The drama unfolded as Pete Gardner, 20, of Askham Lane, York, was getting into bed at an orphanage in Tanzania, east Africa, where he was a volunteer.

As he tucked in a mosquito net to the mattress, a lethal Black Mamba snake suddenly came out at him.

"I must have brushed it with my hand," Pete said.

"It started coming towards me but I was trapped on the bed because of the net. I quickly grabbed a pillow and tried to fend it away while I shouted for help."

Two African volunteers burst into the room and beat the Mamba to death with a large stick. "I guess I could have died," said Pete, who is a youth worker at Gateway Church in Acomb. "It was a really close shave, but I just laughed about it.

"I said a big thank you to God that night!"

Just two drops of Black Mamba venom can kill a human almost instantly. The snake can have up to 20 drops of venom in its fangs.

Dave was at the orphanage for two weeks with Gateway church leader Dave Shore, to support the Bethany Project.

His tasks included general maintenance and teaching Bible stories to the local children.

Updated: 10:32 Thursday, April 03, 2003