Python Wrapped Around Baby In Illinois, Bites One-Year-Old William Winans' Foot

The incident happened last Monday, the Mattoon Journal-Gazette & Times-Courier reported. The boy's parents were awakened around 11 p.m. on July 2 to their son making noises as the snake was attacking him, Mattoon Police Department Deputy Chief Jason Taylor said.

Devin Winans, the father of the baby, said he used a blanket to remove the python, which was wrapped around the boy's left leg.

I immediately turned the light on and saw the snake, a ball python, wrapped around his foot, constricting it, and trying to eat his foot, Devin Winans told ABC News.

The baby was taken to a hospital having sustained a bite mark, bruises and scratches.

It was definitely something we never thought of happening. It was definitely really scary, Sara Lacey, the baby's mother, told the Mattoon Journal-Gazette & Times-Courier.

Lacey said she never saw a python in the building before, as the apartment building in Mattoon has a no pets policy.

Police said they believe the python escaped from another apartment in the building where Shelby C. Guyette, 23, lived. Guyette was charged by police for not having the snake in a secure terrarium.

The python was taken to the Coles County animal shelter.

The baby, William Winans, is doing fine, according to his dad, and celebrated his first birthday on Saturday.

If the snake had wrapped around his neck, honestly, we probably would not be having his birthday today, Devin Winans told ABC News.