Something interesting I learned on a python show I was watching last night....

The tube that was sticking out of the snakes' mouth while it was trying to eat was its windpipe. It's how the snake breathes while it eats large prey. It also has one small lung and one lung the length of its body, but I digress...

The point is, you did the right thing by being there, and able to assist. These are very hardy creatures and they are really an example of fine engineering.

Sorry that you had to go through that, it is terrifying when something like that happens during a feeding. Good job for watching and promptly reacting