A hiker has been left in critical condition after being stung more than 100 times by aggressive “killer bees” near the summit of a mountain in Arizona.
Emergency crews were called out at around 10am on Saturday after reports of a man being attacked by a swarm.
According to the emergency services, the hiker “reported over 100 stings and was unable to continue his descent”.
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Need To Know reports that technical rescue teams located the man near the summit before launching a dramatic helicopter rescue.
Firefighters coordinated a hoist operation using a helicopter, known as Firebird 10, to lift the injured hiker from the Lookout Mountain in Phoenix and bring him to safety.
He was then transferred to an awaiting ambulance at the trailhead and rushed to hospital, where officials confirmed he remains in critical condition.
In a statement shared on social media, the Phoenix Fire Department said: “Technical rescue teams from Phoenix and Glendale responded to Lookout Mountain around 10AM for reports of a hiker stung multiple times by bees near the summit.
“Crews located the adult male, who reported over 100 stings and was unable to continue his descent.
“Firefighters coordinated a hoist operation with Firebird 10 to safely extract the patient from the mountain.”
The department added a safety warning, urging the public to: “Avoid disturbing hives, skip scented products when outdoors, wear light-coloured clothing, and if you encounter a swarm — run away quickly and protect your head and face.”
Bees are commonly encountered on Lookout Mountain, with the vast majority in Arizona believed to be Africanized honey bees — often referred to as “killer bees” due to their aggressive behaviour.
These bees are known to swarm and repeatedly sting when they feel their hive is under threat, which can quickly become life-threatening.
A Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson told FOX 10 that such attacks are driven by the bees’ instinct to defend their colony.
“It’s always about protecting the queen bee, protecting the hive,” the spokesperson said.
“And it sends signals that the other bees come over and kind of attack you.”
The incident comes amid increased bee activity in Arizona, with warmer conditions believed to be contributing to more frequent encounters.
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