Fish and Wildlife workers hospitalized after being stung by bees
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Officials are trying to determine what type of bees attacked two men working on land near Broward County, prompting one to suffer a near fatal allergic reaction.
The two workers, who were subcontracted with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to do plant eradication, were stung by the swarm of bees about 15 miles west of US 27 on the Broward/Palm Beach County line.
A worker carried a colleague who suffered the most bee stings to a rescue chopper that landed on a levy in the area.
When paramedics were able to reach the two men, the victim in worse shape began to go into severe anaphylactic shock. Rescue officials said he would not have lasted much longer without treatment. "Anaphylactic is a very serious thing that warrants a 911 emergency response," said Mike Jachles of Broward Fire Rescue. "What happens is you may have trouble breathing, you may go into shock, and you could die. Had this gone on for another 15 or 20 minutes, the man very easily could have died."
The victim was loaded into a Broward Fire rescue chopper and transported to North Broward Medical Center, where he is listed in good condition.
Rescue crews found a second worker near the first, who only suffered a few bee stings to the head. He was treated on scene and released.
The names of the workers have not been released.
Authorities are now trying to determine if the bees that stung the two men were Africanized bees, also known as killer bees.
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