Python falls out of donated sofa while being cleaned by Ayrshire upcyclers

A worker’s “soul left their body” when a python fell out of a sofa they were deep cleaning.

The member of staff almost suffered a heart attack when the snake came out from the couch, not-for-profit upcyclers Cunninghame Furniture Recycling said.

The donated setee was being thoroughly cleaned at the business’ premises in Irvine, North Ayrshire, as part of normal quality control measures.

The snake did not move and appeared somewhat shrivelled.

Cunningham Furniture Recycling shared pictures of their staff member's discovery on Facebook. — Cunningham Furniture Recycling shared pictures of their staff member’s discovery on Facebook. Facebook

Cunninghame Furniture Recycling saves unwanted furniture and white goods from landfill and had received the couch as a donation from a member of the public.

The not-for-profit’s boss Scott Mould instructed staff to get in touch with the customer who had left the piece of furniture to ask whether they were aware of the animal.

But the customer said they didn’t have any pet or toy snakes and they had got the sofa second-hand themselves.

“They had no idea about it, and had said that it was a used piece of furniture when they got it,” Mr Mould said.

This leaves the possibility the snake resided within the couch throughout the previous ownership without their knowledge.

The snake is thought to be a royal python, a species native to West and Central Africa.

However, Mr Mould told STV News he had not confirmed whether the animal was a real dead snake or a sophisticated fake.

“It was really smelly so that would be an indication to it being real,” he said.