A TEACHER father and son died after a swarm of wild Asian hornets stung them “more than a hundred times” while on holiday in Laos.
Daniel Owen, 47, and Cooper, 15, died Oct. 15 after being attacked by hundreds of Asian giant hornets while ziplining at an adventure resort.
The hornets pounced on the two Americans as they descended from a tree, The Times reports.
Phanomsay Phakan, a doctor at the Phakan Arocavet clinic where the couple was first taken, said: “Their entire bodies were covered in red spots.
“It was very, very painful. Many bites, more than a hundred, all over the body. I already thought it was a very dangerous situation because I had never seen anything as bad as that.”
It is understood that Owen and his son were still breathing when they arrived at the clinic and showed no symptoms of anaphylactic shock – the allergic reaction caused by the sting of wasps or hornets.
They were quickly transported to a local hospital, where they died a few hours later.
Owen was a director of one of the branches of Quality Schools International, a chain of private schools serving the children of diplomats around the world.
In a statement on social media, QSI said: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dan Owen, principal of QSI International School Haiphong, and his son Cooper, due to a tragic accident.
“Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving at five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership and unwavering commitment to education.
“He was deeply loved throughout our community and will be deeply missed. Our deepest condolences to the Owen family and all who knew and loved them.”
asian hornets, called Vespa velutina, have strong bites that can cause pain and potentially fatal allergic reactions.
These 25mm long creatures feed on bees, and experts claim they can “kill” 90,000 pollinating insects in just one season.
Also known as yellow-legged hornets, they first arrived in Europe when a queen was imported to France with some pottery by mistake.
Since then, the insects have spread rapidly to neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
The influx of non-native species has worried scientists, conservationists and beekeepers across the continent.
They risk damaging biodiversity and contributing greatly to the already dwindling numbers of bees and insects.
Asian hornets feed on bees and wasps, so they can have a devastating impact on local insect populations.
They also pose a risk to people.
What to do if you are stung by an Asian hornet and symptoms to look out for
If there is anything left on or in your skin, the first thing you should do is carefully remove it, according to the instructions. National Health Service.
- Brush or scrape the stinger sideways with your fingernail or the edge of a bank card.
- Don’t use tweezers to remove a stinger, as you may squeeze out the venom.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
If nothing is on your skin or you have removed it, wash your skin with soap and water to help reduce the risk of infection.
The sting or sting should improve within a few days. There are some things you can do to relieve your symptoms.
DO
- Place an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or a clean cloth soaked in cold water on the bite or sting for at least 20 minutes, if it is swollen.
- Keep the area elevated if you can
- Take pain relievers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if the bite is painful.
- Use antihistamines to relieve itching.
- Use a hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling.
NO
- Do not scratch the bite or sting, as it could become infected
- Do not use home remedies such as baking soda to treat the bite or sting.
You should make an urgent medical appointment if:
- Your symptoms get worse or do not improve
- They stung you in your mouth or throat, or near your eyes.
- You have a bellyache and you are sick.
- You feel dizzy or lightheaded.
- A large area around the bite or sting becomes red and swollen
- You have a high temperature and swollen glands.
- You were stung more than once
- Have had a serious allergic reaction to an insect sting or sting before.
Call emergency services if:
- Your lips, mouth, throat, or tongue suddenly swell.
- Breathing very quickly or having trouble breathing (you may feel very short of breath or feel like you are choking or gasping for air)
- You feel a lump in your throat or have difficulty swallowing
- Your skin, tongue, or lips turn blue, gray, or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet).
- You suddenly feel very confused, sleepy, or dizzy.
- Someone faints and can’t wake up
- A child is limp, limp, or not responding as he normally does (his head may fall to the side, back, or forward, or he may have difficulty raising his head or concentrating on his face)
You or the sick person may also have a swollen, raised, or itchy rash.
These may be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in a hospital.
