Meet the street kid who grew into a 'Snake Man'

The "Snake Man" is real. The mythical creature with the body of a serpent and face of a human folds himself into a tight coil for the gasping crowds, before slithering into his next impossible position.

Or at least, that's how it seemed to circus manager Winston Ruddle when he first saw the homeless boy dressed head-to-toe in a snake skin suit, performing on the streets of Mombasa, Kenya.

While other professional contortionists spend years training in specialist schools from just five-years-old, Gitu learned his trade while living on the streets aged 14.

An orphan whose mother had died from Aids and father from old age, Gitu learned to bend his body into incredible positions from watching other performers busking.

"I noticed I could do better than them, and I started training on my own," said Gitu.

"I was on the streets for six years with other boys and they all depended on me as their star show -- it was how we made money to survive."

The freakishly flexible teen became something of a legend on the streets of Mombasa, and when Ruddle came to the city looking for performers for his new circus troupe, he was quickly pointed in the direction of the "Snake Man."

While all the elaborately dressed "Mama Africa" performers display remarkable strength, stamina, and skill, it is the "Snake Man" who has carved a name for himself off the stage, regularly appearing in variety TV shows across Europe and the United States.

Sometimes performing with fellow contortionist Hassan Mohamed, the "Plastic Boys," as they are known, bewitch audiences with their fantastically flexible maneuvers.
Indeed, from cramming himself inside a tiny glass box to leisurely bending his legs backwards over his head, Gitu appears to be an otherworldly creature made entirely of rubber.

"The audience is mesmerized -- some are shocked and some are afraid of what they see," said Gitu.
"But contortion is not dangerous if started in early childhood. Today I usually train for around one-and-a-half hours a day."