Pastor Jamie Coots, who starred in reality TV show 'Snake Salvation', has died of a fatal snake bite.
Coots, a Pentacostal preacher at a snake-handling church in Middleboro, passed away on February 15 after being bitten by a snake and refusing medical treatment, reported Variety.
Pentecostals believed in direct personal experience of God through the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
The National Geographic show revolved around the practice of snake handling at a sect of Christian churches, mostly in Kentucky, Alabama, West Virginia and Tennessee.
With the practice the worshippers believed that faith will protect them from the venom of poisonous snakes.
"In following Pastor Coots for our series 'Snake Salvation', we were constantly struck by his devout religious convictions despite the health and legal peril he often faced. Those risks were always worth it to him and his congregants as a means to demonstrate their unwavering faith," National Geographic TV said in a statement.
"We were honoured to be allowed such unique access to Pastor Jamie and his congregation during the course of our show, and give context to his method of worship. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time," the statement further read.
