Killer Bees Sting Woman 1K Times

Victim in Palm Desert, Calif., is covered by bees
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 9, 2014 4:40 PM CDT
Killer Bees Sting Woman 1K Times
   (Shutterstock)

An elderly woman and three firefighters are recovering after being attacked Friday by a massive swarm of killer bees that stung the woman 1,000 times, CBS Los Angeles reports. The 71-year-old looked like someone wearing "a suit of bees" when firefighters arrived, said Battalion Chief Mark Williams. "When you get on scene and see an adult, fully encapsulated with bees, it’s a very rare case," he said. Five firefighters received stings to their necks and faces during the rescue, but only three needed hospitalization with minor injuries.

As for the woman, she was reported in critical condition on the scene but arrived at Eisenhower Medical Center in stable condition, and is expected to recover, The Desert Sun reports. Her husband offered the fire department a donation, but Williams declined: "I told him a handshake would suffice just fine for our firefighters, they aren’t in it for monetary gain," he said. Officials discovered the hive of 60,000 to 70,000 African killer bees in a phone company's metal box—the bees are attracted to vibrations, apparently—and had them removed. (More killer bees stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X