ENCINITAS, Calif. (CBS 8) - He was allergic to bee stings and was stung more than 500 times. Landscaper Marco Lazaro never had a chance.
He was clearing brush at his home in Encinitas on Wednesday when a swarm of bees attacked him.
Dr. James LaBelle is an emergency room doctor at Scripps Encinitas. He says most people think they're allergic to bees because the sting site swells after an attack. But those who really are allergic suffer far more serious symptoms.
"It's not just confined to one area, so you can have throat swelling, a rash over the body, a drop in blood pressure and complications from that," Dr. LaBelle said.
Those complications kill about 50 people in the U.S. every year.
Lazaro was operating a backhoe on the property where he lives when he disturbed the hive Wednesday. He tried to run and hide in a portable lavatory, but it was too late. When paramedics arrived he was in full cardiac arrest.
"A great neighbor. You can't pick your neighbors. Your neighbors are your neighbors, but you couldn't get a better neighbor. You couldn't ask for a better neighbor," neighbor Dan Moriarty said.
Bee experts say the hive Lazaro hit had been there for at least three years and was packed with either African bees or a hybrid swarm.
"There were at least 40,000 bees in the colony, maybe 60,000," a bee expert said.
If you're allergic to bees and get stung, medical experts say get to a doctor immediately. If the swelling just stays around the sting sight, you can take care of the pain at home.
"Treat it with ice and elevation, and if there are systemic symptoms -- rash over the entire body, swelling, difficulty swallowing -- seek care," Dr. LaBelle said.
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