In a terrible event, a swarm of Asian giant hornets attacked Daniel Owen, 47, and his 15-year-old son Cooper, resulting in their deaths.
They were on vacation at an adventure resort in Laos when the catastrophe happened.
According to The Sun, the deadly hornets attacked the father and son on October 15 when they were ziplining at an eco-resort close to Luang Prabang.
A Deadly Encounter: More Than 100 Stings
Owen and his son were ziplining down from a tree when the horrific attack took place.
They were overrun by hundreds of the ferocious hornets, which can reach a length of two inches and have a stinging up to a quarter of an inch, according to the local health authorities.
The entire body was covered with red welts after the father and kid were stung over 100 times.
Phanomsay Phakan, a doctor at the Phakan Arocavet Clinic, where the pair was first taken, described the severity of the situation: “Their whole bodies were covered in red spots. It was very, very painful.”
“A lot of stings, more than one hundred, over the whole body. I thought already that it’s a very dangerous situation because I had never seen it as bad as that.”
Even though the attack was horrifying, Owen and Cooper were still breathing when they got to the clinic and did not exhibit any symptoms of anaphylactic shock, which is a severe allergic reaction that usually occurs after hornet or wasp stings.
They were taken to a neighboring hospital right quickly, and a few hours later they unfortunately died.
The Global Impact of Asian Giant Hornets
Vespa velutina, the Asian giant hornet, is well-known for its powerful stings, which occasionally have the potential to be lethal.
Since these hornets may kill up to 90,000 bees in a single season and feed on honeybees and other pollinating insects, they pose a serious danger to biodiversity.
Since their unintentional importation into Europe in 2004, the hornets have proliferated throughout several nations, prompting worries about their potential effects on regional ecosystems.
These hornets are dangerous to people in addition to having a negative effect on insect populations. Because of the severe pain, swelling, and allergic reactions that their stings can produce, situations like the one that Owen and his kid experienced are even riskier.
A Family’s Loss and the Impact on the Education Community
Originally from Idaho, Owen had spent a number of years living overseas with his wife and children.
In Haiphong, Vietnam, he served as the director of Quality Schools International (QSI), a prominent private school chain that educates diplomats’ children worldwide.
In a heartfelt statement, the school expressed their profound sorrow at his untimely death: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dan Owen, Director of QSI International School of Haiphong, and his son Cooper, due to a tragic accident,” the statement read.
“Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving in five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to education.”
“He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed. Our sincere condolences go out to the Owen family and all who knew and loved them.”
The QSI community was profoundly impacted by Owen’s leadership and dedication to education, and his untimely death has left a profound hole in the hearts of everyone who knew him.
Unprecedented Incident: Eco Resort Responds
The local eco-adventure park, where the attack took place, has also been shocked by the awful fatalities.
According to the New York Post, Green Jungle Park, a company that provides upscale camping and adventure opportunities, offered its condolences to the Owen family and described the incident as “unprecedented.”
A spokesperson from the park shared their response: “Green Jungle Park extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Daniel and Cooper Owen. Following this incident, we have reviewed all existing procedures.”
“This event is unprecedented in our experience and, to our understanding, in Luang Prabang as well. It was an unforeseeable and extraordinary natural occurrence.”
In order to safeguard future visitors from the risks posed by the local hornets, the resort has promised to evaluate its safety procedures.
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