A Scottish GP who moved to Australia in 2020 has left thousands amused after sharing a classic 'Down Under' moment in the workplace.
Dr Michael Mrozinski, who has built a large following online by comparing British and Australian life, was left stunned after spotting a highly venomous snake outside his clinic recently.
'There was a brown snake outside the front door of the clinic today,' he said in a video posted to Instagram.
Naturally alarmed, he went to alert a colleague who remained visibly unbothered.
'I went to the receptionist and she [casually] said to me, "Did you shoo it away?"'
His response was immediate.
'No, I shat my pants and ran in the opposite direction. Absolutely no chance I’m going anywhere near that thing. Second most venomous snake in the world - I’m not shooing that away,' he said.
For many Australians, however, the receptionist’s reaction may not seem entirely out of place.
The Eastern Brown Snake is widely regarded as one of the most venomous snakes in the world and is responsible for the majority of snakebite deaths in Australia.
It is fast, defensive, and can become aggressive if threatened.
Yet encounters with brown snakes are not uncommon, particularly in suburban areas during warmer months.
Commenters were quick to share their own stories.
'I was fighting one three weeks ago - it bit my cat. My cat is still with us after a very expensive vet visit and overnight stay,' one person wrote.
'We had one on our front lawn this week. Luckily it shooed itself away but I can never garden again,' another said.
Others offered practical advice passed down through generations.
'Stomp your feet. That’s what Mum told us to do when we walked through long grass in the paddocks on the way to school,' one commenter suggested.
But several warned against confronting the reptile at all.
'Best to leave it alone - most bites happen when shooing specifically,' one wrote.
'You never, ever go towards a brown snake. They’re highly venomous and can chase and attack multiple times,' a man said.
Dr Mrozinski previously said moving to Australia 'saved' his passion for medicine, praising working conditions, lifestyle, and work-life balance compared to the UK's National Health Service.
He has even joked that his 'worst day ever working in Australia is still better than his best day at the NHS'.
But while the paperwork may be lighter and the beaches sunnier, there are cultural adjustments that no amount of professional fulfilment can prepare you for.
For many expats, Australia's wildlife remains one of the biggest shocks - from spiders in letterboxes to snakes on suburban footpaths.
The incident has sparked debate about just how blasé Australians have become about potentially deadly wildlife.
For Dr Mrozinski, however, there was no inner Steve Irwin waiting to emerge.
'Sensible move,' one commenter told him.
'I would have run a mile too.'
And perhaps that is the ultimate Aussie initiation - realising that sometimes, the most Australian response of all is knowing when to run.