ARLINGTON , Virginia ( CNN ) -- A suburban Washington man was bitten Monday by a rattlesnake that found its way into his luggage , a fire department spokesman said . An Eastern diamondback rattlesnake appears in a photo from the U.S. Geological Survey . `` He felt a sharp pain , brought his hand out and saw the bite , '' said Benjamin Barksdale , assistant chief and chief fire marshal of the Arlington County , Virginia , Fire Department . Andrew Bacas zipped his bag shut and called 911 at about 9:30 a.m . ET , the official said . `` He was conscious and alert but a little anxious , '' Barksdale said of the victim . The bite from the young Eastern diamond rattlesnake was not life-threatening , and the man is being treated at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church , he said . `` We took the bag outside and used a [ carbon dioxide ] fire extinguisher to freeze the snake , '' killing it , Barksdale said . Bacas , a high school rowing coach , had been on a six-day trip to Summerton , South Carolina , with about 80 students , said Mike Krulfeld , director of student activities at Yorktown High School in Arlington . Krulfeld said he did not think the incident was a student prank . `` It 's been rare to find a coach who is as well-liked and highly regarded as Andy . I would find it hard to believe they would do anything even in the name of a prank that would cause harm to him , '' Krulfeld said . The Web site of the school 's crew team warned members to take precautions unpacking from the trip , adding , `` It 's advisable to open bags and unpack outdoors . '' `` It got into his bag somehow at the location where they were staying , '' said Kay Speerstra , executive director of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington . `` Nobody noticed it until he was unpacking , and then he definitely noticed it . '' Speerstra said the snake was about 10 inches long and appeared to be a juvenile . E-mail to a friend .
NEW : High school football coach had been on vacation with students to South Carolina . A 10-inch - long black man killed by sparks from fire extinguisher . Was treated at hospital ; bite reportedly not life - threatening .