Two-year-old boy dies after horrific wasp attack in Thailand
A two-year-old boy has died after being attacked by a swarm of angry wasps in northeastern Thailand.
Health
Don't miss out on the headlines from Health. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A two-year-old boy has died after being stung to death by a swarm of angry wasps.
Narathip, also known as Akhin, was bike riding with a group of friends near an abandoned rice mill in Nakhon Ratchasima, in northeastern Thailand, on Saturday when they ventured too close to a hanging wasp nest under a metal structure in the yard.
The group quickly fled the yard, but Narathip - left behind by his friends - fell off his bike and was swarmed by the territorial insects.
His father, who was alerted to the attack by the other children, braved the wasps to rescue his son, who was found lying on the ground.
Narathip was rushed to Bua Yai Hospital but succumbed to his injuries six hours later.
According to doctors, Narathip’s cause of death was due to a severe allergic reaction as the stings had caused a rapid heart rate, acute kidney failure and cardiac system failure.
His father, who was also stung during the rescue, remains in a critical condition.
Local authorities confirmed exterminators were later sent to destroy the nest.
“Since the incident, I’ve received more than 10 calls to destroy wasp nests and we’ve already co-ordinated with rescuers to remove four of them,” Provincial Council member Pitakpong Sirisak said.
“I urge residents to carefully check their homes as well as nearby trees and electric poles for wasp nests.
“If you spot a newly made nest, destroy it right away.
“But if it’s already fully developed, don’t risk it and just report it to the authorities for safe removal.”
Wasp stings can be fatal by causing an extreme reaction and organ failure due to the toxins.
Those who are allergic to the toxins can go in to anaphylactic shock – causing airway swelling and cardiac arrest.
According to the University of Melbourne, 27 people have died between 2000 and 2013 due to wasp and bee stings in Australia.
More Coverage
Originally published as Two-year-old boy dies after horrific wasp attack in Thailand