Former AFL star Brett Staker saves carpet python on Queensland Highway

A former AFL star risked his life and bravely saved that of a snake he had spotted in the path of traffic on a busy highway.

Former West Coast and Brisbane defender Brent Staker pulled over to the side of a Queensland Highway on Tuesday to move the carpet python from the middle of the road. 

The 36-year-old shared footage of his incredible rescue to Instagram, captioning the video, ‘Pulled over to give a helping hand’. 

It showed Staker approach the snake from behind, grab hold of it and slowly step backward toward the grass verge while keeping his eye closely on the snake.

He then lifted the snake and placed it carefully into some long grass beside the road.

The video received more than 7,000 views and 900 likes as social media users commended Staker for rescuing the snake.

‘Legend mate!! Well done,’ someone wrote.

‘Not all heroes wear capes,’ another commented.

‘Well done brother beautiful snake,’ someone else wrote.

Staker was an accomplished defender who played 110 games for West Coast and 50 for Brisbane, and is currently an assistant coach of the Lions’ women’s team.

He was best known for being on the receiving end of a knockout punch by former Sydney forward Barry Hall in footage that went viral worldwide.

Hall received a hefty seven-game suspension for the incident, and apologized to Staker when they finally buried the hatchet years later in a joint TV interview.