A 71-year-old man died from “more than 1,000 stings” and several others were hospitalised after a swarm of bees descended on a town square.
The horror reportedly unfolded after fumigators tackling the mosquito-borne dengue disease allegedly disturbed a beehive.
This caused the bees to disperse through the area and sting passersby, many of them children, it’s claimed.
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Ramón Silva passed out under a tree in the square after being stung countless times on Tuesday (30 Jan) evening.
His body was later removed from the scene in Santo Tomé, Argentina, by his family.
According to granddaughter Macarena Duete, his “body had more than 1,000 stings.”
She went on: “It was completely disfigured, and he had bees even in his throat, which means he inhaled many of the insects that settled on him.”
Macarena recalled the moment when the bees attacked.
She said: “My grandfather was sitting in the square, drinking wine like he did every day, without bothering anyone.”
Macarena claimed: “When the municipal workers arrived and started fumigating without prior notice or any indication of what they were about to do.
“It was due to the fumigation that the swarm went crazy and started attacking the children and people in the square.
“When that happened, it was total chaos.
“People ran in all directions, and so did the fumigators.
“My grandfather got trapped in the swarm. He couldn’t escape.”
Macarena told how a boy saw the horror unfold and tried to help her granddad.
Several others were attacked by the swarm and at least seven people, including children, had to be rushed to hospital.
Ramón was laid to rest on Wednesday (31 Jan).
An investigation is underway.
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