An elderly woman’s routine visit to church on Good Friday took a tragic turn when she was fatally attacked by a swarm of angry bees.
The incident occurred at a local Catholic Church in Owuoso, situated in the Sekyere South District of the Ashanti Region, as congregants gathered for service.
Witnesses reported that the bees launched their assault as worshippers exited the church onto the main road to conclude the day’s events.
The sudden attack prompted chaos as congregants scrambled for safety, enduring multiple stings from the enraged insects.
Assemblyman Akwasi Tawia, representing the Owuoso Electoral Area, recounted the harrowing ordeal to Asaase News, highlighting that even non-members were not spared from the attack.
“What happened is a sad one. We haven’t seen such a thing before. We still can’t ascertain the source of the swarm of bees. We were told they were praying in church when they were attacked by the swarm of bees. Even a teacher and her Canadian guest were also attacked. Most of them, including the Reverend Father had to take cover”.
“The elderly woman suffered severe injury and so she was rescued and rushed to the Agona Government Hospital, but died moments later. Those who survived with minor injuries were being treated at the same hospital, even most of them have been discharged”.
The cause of the bee attack remains unclear, prompting traditional authorities to initiate rituals aimed at averting potential calamities that could afflict the town.
A bee sting occurs when the stinger of a female bee pierces the skin, resulting in pain and a wound. Unlike insect bites, bee stings can vary in severity due to the chemical composition of the venom.
Individual reactions to bee stings may differ depending on the species of bee involved. While most people experience mild pain from bee venom, the severity of the reaction can vary.
One common home remedy for alleviating bee sting discomfort is to apply wet aspirin or aspirin paste to the affected area.