“Shot 160 times all over the body”… ‘This’ that chased and attacked people, what is it like to get bitten?

The story of a man who was stung as many as 160 times by a swarm of angry hornets that invaded his home has been reported.

According to the BBC and The Sun, 57-year-old Andrew Powell, who lives in Brecon, spoke to the media last Sunday about an incident in which thousands of hornets entered his home and attacked him. After suffering the horrific ordeal of being stung as many as 160 times, he was unable to sleep due to extreme pain and requires hospital treatment.

 

Thousands of wasps that invaded Andrew's house were reportedly flown in after a farmer's combine harvester from a nearby farm disturbed a beehive. When the wasps stormed into the house, he took refuge in the shower, but they continued to chase him, piercing through his clothes and attacking his entire body.

A neighbor friend took Andrew straight to the minor injuries treatment room at the Brecon War Memorial Hospital. Andrew said, “I almost lost consciousness. The sky turned yellow and I saw a white light; I thought it was the end.”

After going to the hospital, he was administered adrenaline, morphine, and cocodamol to relieve pain. Andrew claims that he would have died by now had it not been for quick action. After receiving initial treatment, Andrew was transferred to Prince Charles Hospital in Mersetfield late Sunday evening. Even the medical staff there were reportedly shocked by the fact that he had been stung 160 times by wasps.

Andrew is currently recovering at home. He is still having trouble sleeping due to the pain, and the area where he was stung is turning purple.

 

Domestic hornet sting incidents increase from July to September… If attacked by a swarm of hornets, quickly protect your face and head and move at least 20 meters away.

 

Currently, caution regarding bee stings is being advised in Korea as well. This is because hornet sting incidents tend to rise around this time of year as more people begin tending to ancestral graves ahead of Chuseok. In fact, fatalities caused by bee stings occur most frequently during the summer months of July to September.

The venom of hornets is much stronger than expected. If a person allergic to bee venom is stung, there is a high risk of death within an hour. According to actual cases in Korea, 79% of fatalities occurred within one hour of the sting. Recent statistics show that over the past five years, 13 people suffered cardiac arrest due to bee stings and received emergency treatment, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

 

If a swarm of wasps approaches, you must run as fast as possible to find a safe place. For example, taking refuge in a building or vehicle is the best option. You should avoid jumping into the water. Even if you enter the water, wasps may wait until you come out before attacking. If you are wearing multiple layers of clothing, remove one layer to protect your face and head. It is advisable to quickly cover your head while maintaining a low posture and move at least 20 meters away.

If you are stung by a wasp, you must remove the stinger immediately. Use a credit card or your fingernail to scrape the stinger out by pushing it out. Never use your fingers or tweezers, as this can cause further infection. Once the stinger has been scraped out, wash the affected area with soap and water. Apply an ice pack for about 10 minutes to reduce swelling. To minimize the risk of infection, do not scratch the area, even if it itches.

Folk remedies such as vinegar or baking soda are ineffective. Some people may have an allergic reaction to wasps. Occasionally, it can cause anaphylactic shock requiring emergency treatment. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include severe swelling, hives or itching, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and a drop in blood pressure.

 

Avoid dark-colored clothing whenever possible and wear light-colored clothes. According to experiments conducted by the Korea National Park Service, hornets exhibit different levels of aggression depending on color. Aggression is highest when wearing dark shades of black, as hornets perceive black clothing as belonging to their natural predators, such as bears or badgers. This is followed by brown, red, green, and yellow in order of increasing aggression. Therefore, if you have dark hair, wear a light-colored hat whenever possible. Also, avoid perfumes, strong-scented cosmetics, and sprays. Bees have a keen sense of smell, so unfamiliar or strong scents can be irritating.

 

 

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People also do a lot of grave cleaning ahead of Chuseok.

That's a threat from wasps.

 

I really need to be careful.

It's scary just looking at it.