Experienced hiker killed by swarm of hornets

KANGAR: A senior citizen died after he was believed to have been stung by a swarm of hornets.

Kang Ah Lek, 66, was on a hiking trail at Bukit Ayer here with his friends on Friday evening when they were attacked by a swarm, said Kang’s friend Quah Teow Poh, 60.

Quah, who usually joins Kang for hikes, stayed behind at the foot of the hill.

“While Kang and his friends were hiking they accidentally touched the hornets’ nest and the hornets started attacking them, ” he said, adding that the group abandoned their hike to seek treatment.

“However, Kang collapsed and lost consciousness while on the way down, ” Quah said, adding that he then received calls from Kang’s friends requesting help to bring Kang down.

Quah said Kang was pronounced dead while being treated at Hospital Kangar.

Kang was stung on his head, neck, legs and several other parts of his body.

“Three other members in the group were also treated at the hospital while another four escaped unharmed, ” he said.

Quah said eyewitnesses told him that the hornets that attacked the group of hikers had a yellow spot at the tail.

“We have never experienced this before. Although we knew that there were hornets in the forest, we did not expect it to be this serious, ” he said, adding that Kang was an experienced hiker of more than 20 years.

Malaysian Society on Toxinology president and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Mukhriz Department of Emergency Medicine Consultant Emergency Physician Assoc Prof Dr Ahmad Khaldun Ismail said the victim could have been stung by hornets rather than honey bees.

“From the description of eyewitnesses, the ‘bees’ may actually be hornets, probably from the Vespa afinis species.

“We have recorded multiple death cases from Vespa afinis (common hornet in tropical and subtropical Asia) stings over the years, particularly among children and elderly adults.

“Hornet sting envenoming appears to be more deadly compared to bee stings in our country, ” he said.

He, however, stressed that both were potentially dangerous as the venom effect (envenoming) could cause morbidity.

Dr Ahmad, who is also UKM Associate Professor and Emergency Medicine Consultant, said there was no medication or antidote that could neutralise the venom from bees or hornets.

“However, for those who developed an allergic reaction, there are emergency medications that can control and reverse the hypersensitivity reaction, ” he said.