Saturday, September 15, 2007

Attacking Bees Corner Disabled, Elderly Fellow-- Gee!

A disabled Texas man died this week after being attacked by a swarm of bees outside his home. No one is sure what set off the swarm-- when firefighters arrived on the scene, they found 57-year-old Paul Lee Campton already covered in bees.

“They were on him head to toe,” according to local fire chief Elias Saldivar. His firefighters pulled the man away, suffering stings on their faces as they fought off attacks. “The coat and pants only cover so much,” the chief said of his firefighters’ protective clothing.

Rescuers separated the victim from the marauding bees, but it was too late. Campton, a disabled man who uses a walker, died at Mission Regional Medical Center after being stung more than 1,000 times.

The attack happened after Campton and his 41-year-old brother Lester, opened the garage door and were swarmed by as many as 1,000 bees. Lester Campton escaped to a neighbor’s house and called for help. Alton firefighters arrived on the scene to find a thick, dark cloud of bees attacking the men.

As paramedics took Paul Lee Campton to the hospital, the bees followed after them, stinging emergency workers, Chief Saldivar said. No rescuer sustained serious injuries. Paul Lee Campton died later that night at the Mission Regional Medical Center. His brother Lester was not seriously hurt.

Pest control workers later destroyed the majority of the bees, and authorities said they pose no further threat.

No comments: