A 74-year-old Murrieta woman and a firefighter received treatment at a nearby hospital after being swarmed by an estimated 100,000 bees residing in the walls of her home. Linda Briggs, the homeowner, and a firefighter from the Murrieta Fire Department were attacked when a swarm of bees flew from the home's walls last week, according to a KTLA report.
Briggs recalled standing in front of her home when the bees appeared and immediately surrounded her. Despite using a towel to swat at them, the swarm covered her hands and face, leaving her with hundreds of stings. Her neighbor called 911 and attempted to help by spraying the swarm with a hose. Firefighters arrived, using water and foam to mitigate the bee risk. However, both Briggs and a firefighter required transportation to a local hospital for treatment of their stings, reported SFGate.
Briggs told KTLA that she had over 700 stingers found in her, and medical professionals indicated she was fortunate to have survived. She stated, "People said it was really lucky… That some people have died from this and that I had a lot of venom in me. If I were to get stung again, that could be fatal." Noting that even a dozen bee stings can create a toxic reaction, the Mayo Clinic added that the health situation was indeed dire for Briggs.
The incident was caught on cellphone footage, showing the elderly woman trying to swat the swarm away with a yellow bag before falling to the ground, according to a Daily Mail article. A neighbor named Chuck, who witnessed the attack, told KTLA News that the bees "were relentless" and covered Briggs from the waist up.
Emergency personnel from the Murrieta Fire and Rescue were stung as they tried to mitigate the bees. After the attack, fire crews doused the home with foam and water to exterminate the bees and their nest. Chris Maas with Bee Removal Pros, called to the scene, estimated that about 100,000 bees were living in the area based on the number of colonies present. Maas believed the bees likely came from two or three colonies with separate queens.
Briggs said she had a difficult time trying to remove the bees in the past and her family remains concerned for her well-being and mental health, reported KTLA. As a result, a GoFundMe campaign was set up to "help with the beehive removal along with any related expenses." Briggs' sister, Deb Briggs Werner, who flew in from Wisconsin after the attack, expressed her gratitude that Linda had survived and is recovering well so far.
The incident follows another bee attack in May where two people required medical care after being attacked by bees at a home in Encino, Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, as reported by KTLA. A pit bull/mastiff mix dog also needed veterinary care after being stung hundreds of times by bees in the Lake Matthews area. As the prevalence of these encounters increases, it's crucial to be cautious around swarms and seek immediate assistance if attacked by bees.
