An American Father and Son Die After Wasp Attack in Laos
An American man and his teenage son lost their lives after being attacked by a swarm of wasps while ziplining at an adventure camp in Laos last month. The incident occurred on October 15 at Green Jungle Park, near the city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its natural beauty and tourism.
Dan Owen, director of an international school in neighbouring Vietnam, and his son Cooper were descending from a tree at the end of a zip line when they were suddenly swarmed and stung dozens of times. They were initially treated at a local clinic before being 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 who treated them. “We tried our best to save them but we couldn't.”
According to the doctor, both suffered from severe anaphylactic shock after being stung more than 100 times, although the exact cause of death was still undetermined. The Asian giant hornet, sometimes called the “murder hornet,” is known to inhabit Laos along with several other aggressive wasp species.
Author’s Summary
An American educator and his son died in Laos following a swarm of wasp stings that caused fatal anaphylactic shock during a ziplining activity.