Man Dies After Bee Attack While Harvesting Honey in Mae Hong Son

Picture from responders.

A 46-year-old man lost his life after being stung by a swarm of bees while attempting to collect honey from a raised water tank structure in a rural village.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:10 on 7 May, in Ban Pa Fang, Village 4, Mueang Pon Subdistrict, Khun Yuam District, Mae Hong Son Province. Local police from Khun Yuam Police Station received a distress call reporting a man stranded on the village’s water tank structure, believed to be unconscious.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered the man, later identified as Mr. Weerayut Kantathip, hanging motionless off the side of the tank. According to local witnesses, Mr. Weerayut had climbed the structure to harvest honey from a wild beehive located near the top of the water tank. In the process, he was viciously attacked by a swarm of bees and lost consciousness, falling and hanging from the structure.

Emergency rescue personnel from the Mueang Pon Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO) were dispatched to attempt a recovery. However, efforts to reach Mr. Weerayut were severely hampered by the aggressive nature of the bees, who continued to swarm the area and pose a danger to rescuers.

It took approximately two hours before the rescue team could safely retrieve Mr. Weerayut’s body from the structure. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigating officer, Pol. Lt. Booncherd Chaiyanan, Deputy Inspector at Khun Yuam Police Station, coordinated with a physician from Khun Yuam Hospital to perform a preliminary examination.

Authorities have extended their condolences to the family and urged the public to exercise caution when approaching wild beehives, especially during the warmer months when bee activity intensifies.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-08.