Snake attack: Dog saves her master who then saves her dog

Teena Williams' beloved dog Shelby (not pictured) saved her life. Photo / 123rf

A dog has been hailed a hero after risking her life to save her owner from a deadly brown snake in North Queensland.

Teena Williams, 69, was outside picking bananas when she startled a large venomous snake lurking on the ground.

As the snake moved closer to Williams ready to pounce, her 5-year-old dog Shelby stepped in to protect her.

"All of a sudden Shelby just virtually barrelled her out of the way, and then I saw the snake in her mouth after she attacked it. She saved Mum's life," Teena's daughter told AAP.

"I work in a triple-0 call centre and we get snake calls all of the time. If the snake had bit Mum she might not have survived."

But it was Williams who would then have to save Shelby's life after she realised her dog had been bitten by the deadly snake.

The snake approached the 69-year-old as she was cutting down bananas in North Queensland. Photo / Getty

About 45 minutes after the attack, Shelby was found laying on the ground, salivating, defecating and getting weaker.

Shelby was rushed to the nearest vet where she was given snake antivenom.

The vet bill came to a whopping $1400 but Williams said Shelby was worth every dollar to her.

"The vet told us she was very lucky to be alive."