Swarm of Bees attacks boy

(Townsville Bulletin)

A TEENAGE boy was stung more than 100 times in a freak bee attack at Pallarenda yesterday.

Royce Abraham, 15, was bushwalking with his father, brother and two others at Bald Rock when he was attacked by the swarm of bees. It is believed the teen disturbed the hive as he walked past, with the European honey bees stinging him largely on his face, neck and ears.

PAINFUL EXPERIENCE: Royce Abraham, 15, struggles with the pain after being stung more than 100 times by bees while bushwalking yesterday

Royce's father Gary Abraham said he picked out at least 100 stingers from his son.
"They swarmed him and he cried out and tried to get away," he said.
"He was in a lot of pain. He rated it as eight or nine on the scale.
"It wasn't very good watching him getting hoed into."
Fortunately, the Pimlico State High School student didn't have any allergic reactions to the stings, and was taken in a conscious state to Townsville Hospital for treatment.
Mr Abraham said the attack was not likely to discourage his younger son from the outdoors.
"He's an adventurous, outdoorsy guy - always out and about," he said.
"He'll be keen to do it again, he'll just be a bit more cautious I think."
James Cook University biologist Professor Simon Robson, an expert on bee behaviour, said he had never heard of an attack of this level in the area.
"Bees usually keep to themselves," Prof Robson said.
"They've been bred to produce honey and they're relatively calm.
"Honey bees are not like the killer bees from South America."
Prof Robson said Royce could have died from so many bee stings.
"He's very lucky boy, that must have hurt," he said.
"One hundred stings are a lot of toxins; he must be a good, robust person and he's done very well to come out the other side.
"Some people will have one bee sting and it will put them into anaphylactic shock; he's clearly not allergic to bee stings."
Prof Robson said the incident sounded like a "really unfortunate accident".
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