1 dead, another in critical condition after bees attack construction workers

One man is dead and another remains in a critical condition after being attacked by a swarm of bees while working in Guyana.

On Wednesday, October 22, a group of workers were engaged in road construction at Surat Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, when a swarm of bees suddenly attacked, according to local news outlets iNewsGuyana, Guyana Times and Stabroek news.

Contractors Winston Semple and Glendon Simpson suffered multiple stab wounds during the attack, the outlets reported, citing the Guyana Police Force. After the incident, bystanders rushed to help the men, who were then taken to Enmore Regional Hospital.

Semple, 29, was pronounced dead on arrival, while Simpson, 40, remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Semple’s body was later taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting an autopsy, Kaieteur News reported. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

While basic first aid can often relieve the pain of a bee sting, according to Mayo Clinicthose who are stung more than a dozen times may experience a more severe reaction, which includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and dizziness.

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Others may develop a serious, life-threatening reaction, called anaphylaxiswhich can happen up to an hour after the sting. These symptoms include rash, itching, difficulty breathing, swollen tongue, difficulty swallowing, and chest tightness.

The bee attack in Guyana comes just months after 24 people were injured when the flying insects suddenly attacked in the French city of Aurillac, local authorities in the southern and central French prefecture of Cantal confirmed to Associated Press at that time.

“Everything ended well,” Aurillac mayor Pierre Mathonier told French broadcaster France 3 in July, adding that the bees may have been upset by Asian hornets that threatened a group of beehives installed on a rooftop terrace over a decade ago.

“The emergency services were perfectly coordinated. There was no panic in Aurillac, but a number of people were stung,” added Mathonier.

A 78-year-old man was stabbed 25 times, while another person went into cardiac arrest and needed resuscitation in an ambulance, 9 News reported then.

“In terms of the number of victims, the panic among the people and the severity of some of the injuries, it was impressive,” Lt. Col. Michel Cayla told TV broadcaster TF1, according to the news agency.