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Snake Handler in South Texas Dies After

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A longtime snake handler is dead after being bitten during a show in South Texas over the weekend.

Eugene DeLeon Sr. succumbed to his injuries Saturday night after being bitten by a Western Diamondback rattlesnake at a "Rattlesnake Roundup" event in Freer, Texas, earlier that day, ABC affiliate KIII-TV reports.

Freer Police Chief Hector Doria confirmed to the outlet that DeLeon Sr. was bitten in the shoulder around 1 p.m. on Saturday and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Corpus Christi. The animal handler died Saturday night at around 9 p.m.

RELATED: 'Frantic' California Man Finds 7-Foot Snake Slithering Through His Sofa

PEOPLE's request for more information from the Freer Police Department was not immediately returned.

DeLeon Sr.'s sister posted to Facebook

"After many years of handling these things today was not your day with them.. Rest in Peace my brother..." the post continued.

RELATED VIDEO: Poisonous Boomslang Snake Appears in Family's Christmas Tree

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The Freer Chamber of Commerce — which puts on the Rattlesnake Roundup and counts the event as the largest festival of the year in the city, according to The New York Post — also mourned DeLeon in a post on social media.

"The love and dedication he displayed for his community was witnessed everyday from being a member of the Freer Vol. Fire Department to being a call away for local residents to assist with removing snakes from their property," the chamber of commerce wrote in part on Facebook.

"He was always ready to help. We will never forget his excitement during Roundup time, from doing interviews with television stations to appearing on televised wildlife shows, he did it all."

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A longtime snake handler is dead after being bitten during a show in South Texas over the weekend.

Eugene DeLeon Sr. succumbed to his injuries Saturday night after being bitten by a Western Diamondback rattlesnake at a "Rattlesnake Roundup" event in Freer, Texas, earlier that day, ABC affiliate KIII-TV reports.

Freer Police Chief Hector Doria confirmed to the outlet that DeLeon Sr. was bitten in the shoulder around 1 p.m. on Saturday and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Corpus Christi. The animal handler died Saturday night at around 9 p.m.

RELATED: 'Frantic' California Man Finds 7-Foot Snake Slithering Through His Sofa

PEOPLE's request for more information from the Freer Police Department was not immediately returned.

DeLeon Sr.'s sister posted to Facebook

"After many years of handling these things today was not your day with them.. Rest in Peace my brother..." the post continued.

RELATED VIDEO: Poisonous Boomslang Snake Appears in Family's Christmas Tree

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Freer Chamber of Commerce — which puts on the Rattlesnake Roundup and counts the event as the largest festival of the year in the city, according to The New York Post — also mourned DeLeon in a post on social media.

"The love and dedication he displayed for his community was witnessed everyday from being a member of the Freer Vol. Fire Department to being a call away for local residents to assist with removing snakes from their property," the chamber of commerce wrote in part on Facebook.

"He was always ready to help. We will never forget his excitement during Roundup time, from doing interviews with television stations to appearing on televised wildlife shows, he did it all."

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