Elderly Arizona man dies after being stung by swarm of bees

An elderly man is dead after being stung by a swarm of bees at his home in Arizona, police said.

Peoria Fire-Medical Department Battalion Chief Mark Barbee said crews responded on Wednesday to a report of "a bee assignment" at a home in Maricopa County about 15 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix.

At the scene, Barbee said, first responders found an 83-year-old man in full cardiac arrest who had been moved inside the home "with numerous bee stings."

"Bees were no longer active on arrival and unfortunately lifesaving efforts by the crew were unsuccessful," Barbee told USA TODAY Thursday.

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The victim's identity was not released by police or fire officials.

Peoria Police Department also responded to the scene, Barbee said, and investigators were working to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack by a swarm of bees.

"This is a tragic incident," Officer Kristopher Babros told USA TODAY. "Family members and Peoria Fire Medical personnel attempted life saving measures but were unsuccessful as an 83-year-old male passed away from this tragic bee attack."

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It was not immediately known what type of bees attacked the man.

But according to the United States Department of Agriculture, Africanized honey bees "are more defensive, stinging more with less provocation than other honey bees."

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Peoria, Arizona man dies after numerous bee stings, cardiac arrest