Australian expat killed by swarm of bees in Phayao

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Australian expat killed by swarm of bees in Phayao

 

Thai Rath file photo

 

PHAYAO: -- An Australian expat has died after being stung by hundreds of bees in Phayao province.

 

Peter John William, 64, died on Saturday after being stung by bees that were reportedly disturbed by villagers who were cooking food close to where the nest was located.

 

Witnesses described how smoke from a grill which was being used to cook food engulfed the nest resulting in thousands of bees evacuating the nest.

 

As the villagers fled the scene, Mr William tried to hide under a tree but was stung all over his body.

 

Following the attack Mr William stopped breathing and despite rescue workers arriving at the scene, he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-03-22

[Thaiwrath]

Poor fella.

What a horrendous, unexpected way to die.

R.I.P.

[CharlieH]

Always thought smoke was used to subdue bees? Makes them slow and non aggresive.

Apparently not in this case.

 

RIP.

 

 

[sobriquet]

Would this be an allergy or a more-or-less normal reaction to multiple bee stings?? I didn't think there were killer bees in Thailand, now I guess I can add that to the list of potentially lethal things here.

[namoi]

A swarm of Europen bees giving multiple stings will kill even without an allergy if enough get hold of you

[kokesaat]

There are many kinds of bees in Thailand.  We have 3 very large hives, like that shown in the Thai Rath file photo, in our fruit trees near our home.  We're happy to have them there.  But if it were a wasp nest or some of those big black wasps that burrow into wood, we'd get rid of them.  

I'd not be surprised to hear there's more to the story than what's reported......most any Thai villager knows well how bees react, especially to smoke.  I wouldn't be surprised if they were purposely trying to get the hives/honey......they command a big price in village markets.

[Ron19]

26 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Always thought smoke was used to subdue bees? Makes them slow and non aggresive.

Apparently not in this case.

 

RIP.

 

 

In my younger days I was part of a group that looked after a few hives and we used smoke puffers filled with smoldering burning gum leaves. Still had to wear the protective gear which included a hat and net. This one is a modern version same set up though.

.

[Andrew65]

54 minutes ago, sobriquet said:

Would this be an allergy or a more-or-less normal reaction to multiple bee stings?? I didn't think there were killer bees in Thailand, now I guess I can add that to the list of potentially lethal things here.

Probably anaphalactic shock.

[catman20]

hiding under a tree ?????????

[CGW]

Poor fella! lousy painful way to go! I got attacked about three years ago, luckily I was beside a swimming pool, which I dove into to stop the attack, was in the hospital in ICU twenty minutes later filled with antihistamines and whatever else they deemed necessary! I got stung 19 times - not pleasant!

[captspectre]

This is a serious question, how do you get  rid of the bee's? especially in a hive as large as the one pictured? is there a safe way to get rid of these critters? always thought that smoke would do the job, byt appreaerntly not these critters!

[Oxx]

16 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Always thought smoke was used to subdue bees? Makes them slow and non aggresive.

 

Smoke makes bees think their home is under threat so they gorge themselves with honey in preparation for moving elsewhere.  It's the fact that they're stuffed to the gills with honey that makes them more placid, not the smoke per se.  If there is no honey available, they will remain normally aggressive.  So, for instance, a swarm that has been hanging on a tree (in search of a new home) for a few hours will usually not pose a risk, one that has been there for 3 or 4 days will be much more dangerous.

 

There are, however, some species of bee that are inherently aggressive, most notably African bees (Apis mellifera scutellata) and hybrids thereof.

[jollyhangmon]

4 minutes ago, captspectre said:

This is a serious question, how do you get  rid of the bee's? especially in a hive as large as the one pictured? is there a safe way to get rid of these critters? always thought that smoke would do the job, byt appreaerntly not these critters!

Couple years ago i watched 3 Somchais (from a safe distance, got stung repeatedly before, not funny), one held a plastic dustbin underneath the hive while the other severed it with one of those tree-saws - you know, those ones on a pole - while the third just waited with the lid to quickly close the bin when put down.

Very swift, skilled action, not many bees escaped but they had also smoked them out - well, rather 'in'  ;-) - beforehand and it was far smaller a hide than pictured in the OP plus relatively easy to access ...

 

Professional pest-controllers might use some gas sprayed around as well as 'pumped' into the hive ... but that's it then for the bees, final solution ... 

 

 

[onemorechang]

Poor guy

What a nasty way to go.

Condolences to family and friends.

 

[TSF]

Happens from time to time, not too uncommon for folk to die from bee swarm attacks.

[Borzandy]

21 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Always thought smoke was used to subdue bees? Makes them slow and non aggresive.

Apparently not in this case.

 

RIP.

 

 

The villagers were grilling chilli pepper...

RIP.

[Tarteso]

Horrific way to leave this life. I was been stacked 3 times in Thailand and last one, running for cares at hospital. Now in paranoia!.

[Oleg57]

Cooking very spicy Thai food can make bees anxious. I keep bees (Apis cerana) myself and was witnessing such behavior of the Apis cerana bees. However, I believe that it can be a large colony of the Dwarf Honey bees - Apis florea. They have an open nest and a colony can get extremely defensive if disturbed. While Apis serana bees build a nest in caves, tree hollows and therefore they are less sensitive to fumes. Or the information was wrong and there was a nest of the Giant Asian Hornets. These deadly insects are extremely dangerous. A dozen of the hornets would kill an elephant. My wife once got a sting and was in bed for a few days with strong pain despite medications. It is very common case that the hornets may kill some locals.

Edited March 23, 2017 by Oleg57

[hotchilli]

23 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Always thought smoke was used to subdue bees? Makes them slow and non aggresive.

Apparently not in this case.

 

RIP.

 

 

Smoke yes, not "nam-plaa fumes" that gets me angry too !!

[FitnessHealthTravel]

On 22/03/2017 at 3:20 PM, CharlieH said:

Always thought smoke was used to subdue bees? Makes them slow and non aggresive.

Apparently not in this case.

 

RIP.

 

 

I think it depends on the type of smoke. They obviously didn't like the BBQ

[chrissables]

1 hour ago, Oleg57 said:

Cooking very spicy Thai food can make bees anxious. I keep bees (Apis cerana) myself and was witnessing such behavior of the Apis cerana bees. However, I believe that it can be a large colony of the Dwarf Honey bees - Apis florea. They have an open nest and a colony can get extremely defensive if disturbed. While Apis serana bees build a nest in caves, tree hollows and therefore they are less sensitive to fumes. Or the information was wrong and there was a nest of the Giant Asian Hornets. These deadly insects are extremely dangerous. A dozen of the hornets would kill an elephant. My wife once got a sting and was in bed for a few days with strong pain despite medications. It is very common case that the hornets may kill some locals.

I have been stung by these hornets, very painful! Each sting left a bleeding would like an injection would. Neck and ear also a sensitive area.

I had the nest burnt out that night.

[Inepto Cracy]

I am one of those unfortunate persons, who when stung by a bee, I react very badly to the sting. I have 6 minutes to get to the hospital. But my first line of defense is an Epinephrine Pen.

Available only on a Doctors prescription. A life saver for any type of anaphylactic shock. I do wear a medical alert bracelet in english and thai to warn of this problem.

Take care out there.

Beware the Chinese killer bees that are in Thailand. One sting can kill an adult.

 

[javel]

People they take down easy. Hornets even kill adult elephants.

 

[impulse]

On 3/23/2017 at 4:19 PM, Inepto Cracy said:

Available only on a Doctors prescription. A life saver for any type of anaphylactic shock. I do wear a medical alert bracelet in english and thai to warn of this problem.

 

Is that true in Thailand as well?  There are a lot of meds available OTC here that would require a script back home.

[canuckamuck]

Probably hornets, they kill folks every year in Thailand. Thais call all bee-like things bees.

[bannork]

8 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Probably hornets, they kill folks every year in Thailand. Thais call all bee-like things bees.

I've been stung now and again by hornets, especially in or after the rainy season when there is plenty of long grass and undergrowth. Walking or cutting the grass I never hear them, but suddenly they're hovering around my legs and producing a painful sting that lasts for a few minutes. Their nest always seems to be near to the ground but there are never too many and walking a few metres away they then leave me alone.

There are bees upcountry, folks walk around selling the delicious honey, I wouldn't be surprised if this was bees rather than hornets.

[chrissables]

3 minutes ago, bannork said:

I've been stung now and again by hornets, especially in or after the rainy season when there is plenty of long grass and undergrowth. Walking or cutting the grass I never hear them, but suddenly they're hovering around my legs and producing a painful sting that lasts for a few minutes. Their nest always seems to be near to the ground but there are never too many and walking a few metres away they then leave me alone.

There are bees upcountry, folks walk around selling the delicious honey, I wouldn't be surprised if this was bees rather than hornets.

Every time i have seen a nest they were in trees or eves of houses. When i was stung it was very painful!

 

[canuckamuck]

22 minutes ago, bannork said:

I've been stung now and again by hornets, especially in or after the rainy season when there is plenty of long grass and undergrowth. Walking or cutting the grass I never hear them, but suddenly they're hovering around my legs and producing a painful sting that lasts for a few minutes. Their nest always seems to be near to the ground but there are never too many and walking a few metres away they then leave me alone.

There are bees upcountry, folks walk around selling the delicious honey, I wouldn't be surprised if this was bees rather than hornets.

Trust me I have seen enough hornet nests in trees here, and their sting will give you more than a few minutes of pain. And several stings will have you in the hospital. Usually it is vespa tropica, which occasionally have huge nests.

 

[Kurtsie]

Stay away from the right side of 11th hole at Thana City!  Last month I got nailed walking up to the green from the tree line.  Had a Benadryl stick in my bag and got it onto the sting point quicly.  Caddy told staff at next drink hut.  This month, walking up the right side of the same  fairway and a swarm hit me, with 3 stings in the neck dropping me like a hot rock.  Caddy had putt stick into her pocket and also had Tiger Balm ready.  I as in pain for 3 days.  She complained to maintainence staff on the next hole and they just shrugged.  Seems people are hit every day while playing that hole and nobody at the course does anything about it.  They will not see me again there!

 

To the poor gentleman, RIP!!!

[steven100]

54 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Probably hornets, they kill folks every year in Thailand. Thais call all bee-like things bees.

I've been stung a few times in Thailand ....

 

If I remember right ....  one was name ' bee '  and she hurt the most.