Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Intheswamp on July 15, 2012, 10:58:51 AM

Title: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: Intheswamp on July 15, 2012, 10:58:51 AM
Not much detail, but a bee sting death reported in Nogales, Arizona.  Hopefully more details will come out.

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/19016107/man-stung-to-death-by-bees-in-nogales?hpt=us_bn10 (http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/19016107/man-stung-to-death-by-bees-in-nogales?hpt=us_bn10)
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: Intheswamp on July 15, 2012, 11:03:22 AM
Lot's more details in this report...

http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/nogales-man-dies-after-being-attacked-by-bees/article_a40a8ee4-cd00-11e1-8a6e-001a4bcf887a.html (http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/nogales-man-dies-after-being-attacked-by-bees/article_a40a8ee4-cd00-11e1-8a6e-001a4bcf887a.html)
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: Richard on July 15, 2012, 11:36:39 AM
Thanks ITS. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
There's a video report on it here. ..w.kgun9.com/multimedia/videos/?bctid=1732639829001
Richard
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: yockey5 on July 15, 2012, 12:34:36 PM
AHBs no doubt about it.
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: David McLeod on July 15, 2012, 12:35:56 PM
Truly scary and sad. I do wonder though, not to assign blame, when things like this happen whether there was a state of panic that prevented the victim from escaping. Whether it be a bee attack, a drowning or other calamity I wonder if there was possibly something that could have been done differently. Did the victim freeze up and stand and fight or did he run. Who knows, but I do try to learn what happened and try not to make the same mistakes if I should ever find myself in a similar predicament.
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: BlueBee on July 16, 2012, 12:53:26 AM
Sad news report, indeed  :(

Who knows, the guy might have tried running.  But is running from an AHB attack really a viable solution?  A swarm of EHB can easily out run me, so I'm not sure running from a bunch of riled up AHB is really going to buy you much.  Won't they give chase for at least a half mile?

What is the recommended action if a beek ever finds themselves in that situation without a suit? 
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: hardwood on July 16, 2012, 01:11:14 AM
Jump in the nearest car or enclosed structure and kill them as quickly as you can.

Scott
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: David McLeod on July 16, 2012, 09:08:17 AM
Even running may not help. The gentleman that was killed here in Georgia bailed (he left the dozer running) and ran.  It was the heart attack that got him.
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: Intheswamp on July 16, 2012, 11:22:05 AM
About the only thing I could think might help other than hardwood's great advice about getting into a vehicle is to run into some brush or low-hanging branches.  Laying/falling down seems to be a fatal move.  All that I have read is to cover your face and run, run, run.  Naturally, a person's health comes into play in regards to being capable of running *and* to withstand a multitude of stings.  Where this poor man was at didn't look like much more that scrub bushes...a vehicle close by might have saved him.

It seems like it was one of those situations where you don't know how you would respond until the situation arises...we just hope we would (and could) do what would save us.

Ed
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: Javin on July 20, 2012, 05:20:01 PM
Man... Makes me want to take note of where the nearest swimming pool is everywhere I go.  But I've also heard they'll wait hovering over the water for you to come up for a breath.  Anyone else heard of this?
Title: Re: Bee sting death in Arizona
Post by: Intheswamp on July 20, 2012, 06:44:10 PM
Javin, I've read from several different sources that jumping into water is the wrong thing to do...that the bees will hover around and when you resurface they will start stinging but the only target then is your head and upper body.  

Ed