US man ‘died from pet Gila monster’s venomous bite’

A Gila monster similar to the one believed to have bitten Christopher Ward, at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle (Ted S Warren/AP)

A Colorado man who was placed on life support after he was bitten by his pet Gila monster died of complications from the desert lizard’s venom, a post-mortem examination report obtained by The Associated Press confirmed.

The report also found that heart and liver problems were significant contributing factors in Christopher Ward’s death.