Police said the victims were working at the Vi at Silverstone Independent Living facility when they were stung. A spokesperson with the Scottsdale Fire Department said one of the victims was in a cherry picker when they got swarmed by the bees. The two other workers got that person down and were also attacked. When firefighters arrived they had to use a mixture of water and foam to get the bees of of them. According to the spokesperson, the victim in the cherry picker who was initially attacked by the bees was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died. 12News was also told they suffered too many stings to count. The two others are in stable condition, according to police.
Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency physician and medical toxicologist with Valleywise Health, said he believes the workers were attacked by Africanized honey bees, more commonly known as killer bees. Dr. LoVecchio said these attacks are relatively common and happen when people get too close to the bees’ hive. The venom from these stings can cause serious problems, including kidney and liver failure, LoVecchio said.
“It’s very hard to protect yourself,” LoVecchio said. “Once you get nailed by one, all the other guys come over.”
When asked how many stings can cause death, LoVecchio said it could be hundreds of stings or more than a thousand. For those who are allergic and have been stung hundreds of times, LoVecchio said the death would be much quicker.
Full article: Bee swarm leaves 1 dead, 2 hospitalized in Scottsdale | 12news.com
Original author: Gabe Trujillo, Chase Golightly
