An American Man and Son Die from Wasp Stings While Ziplining in Laos
An American man and his teenage son died last month after being swarmed and stung many times by wasps while ziplining at an adventure camp in Laos, a hospital official reported on Thursday.
Incident Details
Dan Owen, the director of an international school in Vietnam, and his son Cooper were attacked on October 15 at Green Jungle Park, located near Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The attack happened as they descended from a tree at the end of the zip line.
Medical Response
The two were initially taken to a local clinic and then transferred to Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital in critical condition.
“The son was unconscious and passed away after half an hour, while the father was conscious and passed away about three hours later,”said Jorvue Yianouchongteng, the emergency room physician.
“We tried our best to save them but we couldn't.”
Cause of Death
The doctor explained that both suffered from severe anaphylactic shock after being stung more than 100 times across their bodies. However, the exact cause of death was not conclusively determined.
Wasp Species
The insects involved were Asian giant hornets, also known as the “murder hornet” for their aggressive nature toward other insects. These hornets are found in Laos, along with several other wasp species.
Summary
This tragic incident highlights the dangers posed by aggressive wasps in Southeast Asia, especially at popular tourist sites where encounters can be fatal despite medical efforts.