Bee attacks in Cochise County have left two dogs dead, and sent one man to the hospital.
According to the Sunsites-Pearce Fire District, on August 15th, 2022, first responders was dispatched for a report of bee stings. Sunsites-Pearce Fire District (SPFD) personnel arrived on scene and found 2 victims who had been attacked by a swarm of thousands of bees while demolishing an old building. The first victim had multiple bee stings to the head, neck, and face but had been able to flee the swarm and was alert and responsive.
The second victim was found laying unresponsive in a field covered with so many bees his skin was not visible. According to SPFD, first responders recognized the seriousness of the situation and knew if they did not act immediately the man would die. Putting themselves at great risk they exited the ambulance and administered life saving medication to the man.
While administering care SPFD personnel were stung multiple times.
A Cochise County Sheriff’s deputy arrived on scene and used a fire extinguisher to help disperse the bees while the victim was loaded into the ambulance for immediate transport to a Northern Cochise Community Hospital (NCCH) where he was later flown to Tucson for more intensive care. SPFD personnel were evaluated but did not require admission to the hospital.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office noted on Facebook that this was the second attack this month. In the first instance, “a man who was stung multiple times and his two dogs succumbed to the poisonous stings.”