Austin friend of Wimauma was keeping the potentially deadly snake , AKA a cottonmouth , in a pillow ##case in his bedroom . A friend described Hatfield 's ' not afraid of death ' and the year - old won himself the chance to face death down on him . he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in critical condition but has since improved and he 's expected to recover .
Austin Hatfield of Wimauma was keeping the potentially deadly snake , AKA a cottonmouth , in a pillow case in his bedroom . A friend said Hatfield 's 'not afraid of death ' and the 18-year-old won himself the chance to face death down on Saturday . Hatfield was rushed to a Tampa hospital in critical condition but has since improved and he 's expected to recover .