MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities say a man visiting from Louisiana has died after being stung by bees more than 1,000 times while hiking in a Mesa park.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s officials say a large swarm of bees attacked Alex Bestler and a female friend Thursday morning while they were on the Merkle Trail within Usery Mountain Park.
The woman was able to escape and ran for help.
Park employees say Bestler was lying on the ground covered by hundreds of bees.
Emergency crews arrived and were able to load Bestler onto a utility vehicle and remove him from the scene, still covered in bees and the swarm following them.
Bestler was taken to a hospital, where authorities say he later died.
Bestler’s age and hometown in Louisiana weren’t immediately available Thursday afternoon.
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