Newsroom
A routine pool maintenance job in Paphos turned into an unexpected and unsettling discovery after a worker found a large dead viper inside a swimming pool skimmer.
The incident happened when a technician from a maintenance company based in Tala was called to investigate a pool issue after the owner reported air leaking from the system and unusual malfunctioning of the skimmer.
But instead of a technical fault alone, the worker was met with what the company later described on social media as “the largest viper we have ever had to remove from a skimmer.”
The snake was already dead when it was discovered, but the sight was still enough to catch attention and quickly turn into a cautionary tale shared online.
Skimmers are the small openings in swimming pools that collect surface debris like leaves and insects before water is filtered. However, experts say they can also unintentionally trap small animals, especially during the warmer months when snakes and other wildlife become more active and may seek water sources.
Following the discovery, the maintenance company used the incident to remind pool owners to take extra care when opening skimmer lids, warning that they should never be removed with bare hands.
They advised using proper tools such as a hook and opening the lid carefully, ideally angled towards the body for a bit of protection, in case anything unexpected is inside.
The company also stressed the importance of regularly cleaning and checking skimmers, not only for hygiene and proper pool function, but also to prevent situations where animals can become trapped unnoticed.
While snakes are a familiar part of Cyprus’ natural environment, especially in rural and semi-rural areas like Paphos, encounters like this remain rare and often end with more shock than danger.
