I'm also terrified of snakes due to their ability to blend into places we can't imagine they will be. One thing about snakes is that, the moment they feel threatened and cornered by humans they strike immediately. The most scary aspect of snakes is their venom, I have seen a grown up man get bitten by snake and up till today his left leg remain paralyzed. Your friend his really lucky to have people around him to rush him to the hospital, if not, he would have been in a lot of trouble.
Very accurate points you have shared here brother. Snakes attack when ever they feel threatened and sometimes humans accidentally threaten them without even knowing. The most scariest imagination for me is that a snake sees me first before I see it.
In most cases, as long as the snake is not a python, the moment they discover you first they usually feel the need to hide or run.