An American man and his son die after wasp stings in Laos
An American man and his teenage son died last month after being attacked by a swarm of wasps while ziplining at an adventure camp in Laos. They were stung dozens of times, according to hospital officials.
Incident details
Dan Owen, director of an international school in Vietnam, and his son Cooper were stung on October 15 at Green Jungle Park, near Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. The attack occurred as they descended from a tree at the end of the zipline.
Medical response
They were initially treated at a local clinic and then transferred to Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital in critical condition. Jorvue Yianouchongteng, the emergency room physician, reported:
“The son was unconscious and passed away after half an hour, while the father was conscious and passed away about three hours later. We tried our best to save them but we couldn't.”
Both suffered severe anaphylactic shock after more than 100 stings, though the exact cause of death was not confirmed.
About the wasps
The Asian giant hornet, often called the “murder hornet” due to its aggressive nature, is common in Laos. Several other wasp species are also present in the area.
Summary: An American father and son died from severe anaphylactic shock after being attacked by a swarm of wasps while ziplining in Laos, highlighting the dangers of local wildlife.