Brush-clearing worker killed and responders stung after crew disturbed bee colony in barrel
A brush-clearing crew using a skid-steer, power tools and hand work reportedly disturbed a bee colony occupying a 55-gallon barrel. A 61-year-old worker received hundreds of stings and died despite treatment; three additional workers received medical treatment, several responders were stung, and bees entered the ambulance during care. A suited firefighter with openings taped closed helped extract the victim, and Erath County supplied additional bee suits before responders used protein foam to suppress the bees.
Incident Summary
A brush-clearing crew using a skid-steer, power tools and hand work reportedly disturbed a bee colony occupying a 55-gallon barrel. A 61-year-old worker received hundreds of stings and died despite treatment; three additional workers received medical treatment, several responders were stung, and bees entered the ambulance during care. A suited firefighter with openings taped closed helped extract the victim, and Erath County supplied additional bee suits before responders used protein foam to suppress the bees.
Public-Safety Lesson
Brush-clearing crews need pre-work checks around barrels and discarded equipment, immediate retreat procedures, and exact-location information for dispatch. Responders may need to stage beyond the active defensive area, use sealed bee PPE for extraction, and protect patient compartments from bees.
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Source Information
Source: Dublin Citizen
Source Strength: B - Established Local News / Officials Quoted