Mystery after man's dead body discovered near escaped pet python

Dan Brandon dies after reportedly suffering 'serious injuries'

Dan Brandon pictured with a python (Dan Brandon/Facebook )

Mystery surrounds the death of a man whose body was reportedly found at his home near his escaped pet python.

Described as an experienced handler, Dan Brandon died in the home he shared with his parents home in Church Crookham, northeast Hampshire.

The 31-year-old was discovered in his room with his snakes, one of which – a python that can grow up to 25ft long – was out of its pen and near his body, according to reports.

Police said he had suffered “serious injuries”, but did not reveal the nature of those injuries.

Hampshire Police said the death was currently being treated as non-suspicious, but that officers were carrying out enquiries on behalf of the coroner.

Dan Brandon with a snake wrapped around his neck (Dan Brandon/Facebook ) (Dan Brandon/Facebook)

An officer for North Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley said an inquest would be opened over the next two days, at which point a cause of death will be released

An officer for North Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley said an inquest would be opened administratively in the next couple of days when a cause of death would be released.

Brandon had posted images on social media of himself with reptiles, one of which was a yellow Burmese python.

Dan Brandon holding snakes (Dan Brandon/Facebook ) (Dan Brandon/Facebook)

John Cottrell, a friend of Brandon, set up two JustGiving pages in his memory to raise money for World Wide Fund for Nature and RSPB.

The page reads: "[Dan] was obsessed with snakes, spiders, birds and all wildlife, in his memory we have set up two fundraising pages, one for WWF and one for RSPB.

"We have struggled when looking for photos for his funeral to find any when he isn't holding a spider, snake, small bird, toad, slow worm, hedgehog, feeding a fox, stroking cattle, befriending a cat or dog so these charities seemed the perfect choice. In memory of you Dan.... who we will all miss SO much."