In a tragic turn of events, a man in Eastland, Texas, lost his life after being attacked by a swarm of bees on April 27. The man, Stephen Daniel, was mowing a lawn near an abandoned building in Friendship Park when he inadvertently disturbed a beehive, triggering a deadly onslaught by the insects.
In an attempt to escape, Daniel sought refuge in his truck. However, the bees continued their assault, following him into the vehicle. Overwhelmed by the bees, Daniel lost control of his truck, crashing into a neighboring property owned by Chrishae Cooper.
Cooper, who witnessed the incident, immediately called 911. She described seeing a swarm around Daniel’s truck before it veered off the road and onto her property. When the police arrived, they found Daniel still under attack by the bees.
The responding officers swiftly evacuated Daniel from the area, placing him in a police vehicle to shield him from further stings. Despite their efforts, Daniel became unresponsive while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Emergency medical personnel administered life-saving measures and transported him to Eastland Memorial Hospital.
Regrettably, Daniel did not survive the effects of the bee stings. The cause of death was reported as circulatory collapse, a condition that can occur as a result of severe allergic reactions, including those caused by bee stings.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by bees, wasps, and hornets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these insects are responsible for an average of 72 fatalities in the United States each year.