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SecularMotion

(7,981 posts) Sat May 28, 2016, 11:19 AM May 2016

Man dies after being stung more than 1,000 times in Arizona park

Source: Berkshire Eagle

What was supposed to be a short and easy hike ended in tragedy Thursday morning when a young man died after being stung more than 1,000 times by bees in an Arizona park.

Alex Bestler, 23, was walking along Merkle Memorial Trail in Usery Mountain park near Mesa just before 9 a.m. when he and a friend were suddenly attacked by thousands of bees.

"Without provocation or warning, a large swarm of bees descended on both of them as they continued on the trail," the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

Bestler's friend, identified in the release only as Sonya, was ahead of him on the trail. She was able to scramble to a restroom to escape the swarm.

Read more: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/ci_29950220/man-dies-after-being-stung-more-than-1

6 replies

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Man dies after being stung more than 1,000 times in Arizona park (Original Post) SecularMotion May 2016 OP

Africanized bees likely. They don't need much if any provocation to attack. no_hypocrisy May 2016 #1

No doubt. sarge43 May 2016 #2

The Usery???? - I am sitting on my back patio not 10 minutes away asiliveandbreathe May 2016 #3

oh Thursday - didn't hear a thing about it - until now...WOW! asiliveandbreathe May 2016 #4

This is a bizarre outdoor threat, and we need advice on how to counter it. braddy May 2016 #5

Jesus that is a horrible way to go. romanic May 2016 #6

no_hypocrisy

(46,130 posts)

1. Africanized bees likely. They don't need much if any provocation to attack.

Reply to SecularMotion (Original post)

Sat May 28, 2016, 11:22 AM

May 2016

sarge43

(28,941 posts)

2. No doubt.

Reply to no_hypocrisy (Reply #1)

Sat May 28, 2016, 11:39 AM

May 2016

Very territorial and highly aggressive.

Authorities must find and destroy the hives or others will be attacked. Further, the strain could breed into domesticated hives.

asiliveandbreathe

(8,203 posts)

3. The Usery???? - I am sitting on my back patio not 10 minutes away

Reply to SecularMotion (Original post)

Sat May 28, 2016, 01:53 PM

May 2016

OMG - and this is close to the Salt River Tubers who will be enmass today and this week-end..I am looking at the Superstition mountains as we speak - they must find the nest....so sorry for his loss..this happens too many times..people need to safeguard their trek thru any hiking trail this time of year...be well all...

asiliveandbreathe

(8,203 posts)

4. oh Thursday - didn't hear a thing about it - until now...WOW!

Reply to asiliveandbreathe (Reply #3)

Sat May 28, 2016, 01:54 PM

May 2016

braddy

(3,585 posts)

5. This is a bizarre outdoor threat, and we need advice on how to counter it.

Reply to SecularMotion (Original post)

Sat May 28, 2016, 03:35 PM

May 2016

I'm aware of bears and cougars and rattlesnakes and I can fight them, even if I lose to them, but walking along and suddenly being swarmed by killer insects with zero way to escape, or resist, or to go down fighting, is a truly disturbing form of death.

I wonder if mosquito netting pants, over shirt, and face netting would be sufficient for survival, for backpacking they would not add much weight.

This looks helpful in such a situation, although it would still be a tough experience.
http://www.hammacher.com/Product/88264?cm_cat=ProductSEM&cm_pla=AdWordsPLA&source=PRODSEM&gclid=CNGR3sXB_cwCFdKIfgodv7EKjw

romanic

(2,841 posts)

6. Jesus that is a horrible way to go.

Reply to SecularMotion (Original post)

Sat May 28, 2016, 05:35 PM

May 2016

I can't even fathom 1000 bee stings at once. D:

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