Father and Son Die in Agony After Being Attacked by Swarm of ‘Murder Hornets’ During Laos Holiday from Hell
- American father and son, Dan Owen and his 15-year-old son Cooper, killed by deadly Asian giant hornets during zip-lining adventure in Laos
- The pair suffered over 100 agonising stings, with one doctor describing the attack as “very, very painful”
- Deaths are a rare occurrence from hornet stings, with one local doctor saying he’s never seen a fatality in over 20 years of practice
An American father and son’s dream holiday in Laos turned into a nightmare when they were attacked and killed by a swarm of deadly “murder hornets” during a zip-lining adventure.
Dan Owen, 47, and his 15-year-old son Cooper were descending a tree at a resort near the northern city of Luang Prabang when they were set upon by the aggressive insects. The pair were “covered in red spots” and in agony when they arrived at a local clinic, with one doctor describing the scene as “a very dangerous situation.”
“A lot of stings, more than 100, over the whole body,” said Dr Phanomsay Phakan, who treated the pair at Phakan Arocavet Clinic. “I thought already that it’s a very bad situation because I had never seen it as bad as that.”
Despite initial signs that they would recover, the father and son later died at a regional hospital, leaving behind a community in shock. “He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed,” said the international school where Mr Owen worked as a director.
Asian giant hornets, also known as “murder hornets”, are notorious for their powerful venom, which can cause tissue degeneration, anaphylactic shock, and renal failure. Their stingers are about 1cm long and can inject a potent neurotoxin, with one entomologist describing the sensation as “having hot tacks pushed into my flesh.”
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with the resort reviewing its safety procedures and describing the event as “unforeseeable and extraordinary.”
“This event is unprecedented in our experience and, to our understanding, in Luang Prabang as well,” said a spokesperson for the Green Jungle Park. “It was an unforeseeable and extraordinary natural occurrence.”