✓ Christopher Ward died from a bite by his pet Gila monster named Winston.
✓ His girlfriend found Winston latched onto Ward’s hand.
✓Ward exhibited symptoms, was hospitalized, and declared brain-dead five days later.
✓The couple’s Gila monsters and spiders were removed from their home.
✓Gila monsters, venomous reptiles, are illegal in Lakewood.
✓Ward’s girlfriend surrendered the pets; Gila monsters were sent to South Dakota.
✓Gila monster bites can cause severe pain and unconsciousness but are rarely fatal.
NEW YORK POST
A Colorado man has died after being bitten by his pet monster lizard named Winston — as the victim’s girlfriend described finding the venomous desert reptile latched onto his hand.
Christopher Ward, 34, had spent days clinging to life on a ventilator after being attacked by one of his two Gila monsters.
He died in the hospital on Friday, Lakewood Police Department spokesman John Romero announced this week.
Jefferson County coroner’s officials have declined to say if tests confirmed yet that Ward had died from exposure to the lizard’s venom, or from an unrelated medical issue.
Ward’s girlfriend told police she had heard something that “didn’t sound right” and entered a room to find Winston the Gila monster’s mouth clamped down on her boyfriend’s hand, according to an animal control officer’s report.
