Stung 2,000 times: Maintenance worker hospitalized after bees attack at golf course

Fernando Cervantes Jr., Arizona Republic
·2 min read
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A maintenance worker at an Arizona golf course was attacked by bees over the weekend after encountering a beehive, first responders said.

According to officials from Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (AFMA), a man in his 50s was stung on Saturday nearly 2,000 times at Pebblebrook Golf Course in Sun City West.

The city is in Maricopa County about 30 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix.

When firefighters first approached the man, they initially thought he was covered in grass clippings, according to a spokesperson for AFMA. But as they got closer, they discovered that they were bees instead.

Officials are not sure how the bees came to attack him, but firefighters dressed in bee hoods and turnouts to protect themselves used foam to subdue the bees and allow them to rescue the man.

He was then taken to a hospital for treatment, as of Monday morning the man remained intubated at the hospital.

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What should I do if I encounter a swarm?

If you find yourself squaring off against a potential swarm, the best thing to do is stay calm and leave.

"When dealing with bees that start coming towards you, the first thing they will do is bump you, because if they sting you they die," President of the Beekeepers Association of Central Arizona and University of Montana Master Beekeeper Duane Combs told the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. "When you see bees circling around you or bumping you, you need to back up and back out of the area."

Don't swat at them, either, as it'll be perceived as an aggressive move, which could spark the bee into becoming more defensive, and increasing the possibility of getting stung.

A honey bee gathers pollen from a wildflower on the Quail Trailhead at Estrella Mountain Regional Park on March 9, 2023, in Goodyear.
A honey bee gathers pollen from a wildflower on the Quail Trailhead at Estrella Mountain Regional Park on March 9, 2023, in Goodyear.

Additional tips to avoid being stung

These are some additional tips from experts to help reduce grabbing a bee's attention:

  • Avoid wearing dark, loose clothing or shiny objects while hiking

  • Avoid wearing perfumes, cologne, or strong scent

  • Don't make jerky movements near hives

  • Do not swat at bees

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maintenance worker stung by bees 2,000 times at Pebblebrook Golf Course