The man called emergency services in Phoenix on Saturday because his injuries prevented him from continuing his descent from Lookout Mountain during a trek. Rescue teams dispatched a helicopter and hoisted him from the mountain before transferring him to an ambulance to bring him to the hospital. Emergency service officials say the unnamed victim is in critical condition.
The Phoenix Fire Department has advised people to avoid disturbing hives, wear light-colored clothing, and not use scented products when hiking. Anyone who encounters a swarm is advised to run away quickly and protect their head, face, and especially mouth. Bees are very common on Lookout Mountain and are frequently encountered by hikers.
Almost all wild bees in Arizona are Africanized honey bees, which are highly protective of their hives and commonly known as 'killer bees' for their aggression. Africanized honey bees are a hybrid of the African honey bee and various European honey bee subspecies. They were accidentally released in Brazil in the 1950s after a geneticist, Dr. Warwick E Kerr, had been crossbreeding the different subspecies in an effort to improve the country's honey yields. According to the Centre for Invasive Species Research, they have spread as far south as Argentina and are only found in the Americas.
Dr. Frank Loveccino, a professor at Arizona State University, said the venom from repeated bee stings effectively 'crushes your muscle.' He told FOX 10 it is not uncommon for someone to be stung hundreds of times in a single incident. Bee activity has been especially high recently due to an unusually warm winter, this being just the latest in a string of incidents. Last week, five people were stung, of which one was taken to the hospital, after a swarm disrupted a women's lacrosse game at a university sports field in Tempe.
In a separate incident, a California hiker was airlifted to the hospital after being stung by fire ants on a trail. The Montecito Fire Department and Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue rushed to help the injured woman Tuesday morning at the West Fork of the Cold Springs Trail. She had suffered an allergic reaction after coming into contact with fire ants, Montecito Fire wrote in a Facebook post. A Santa Barbara County helicopter found the hiker before firefighters could reach her on foot, and a rescuer was lowered to hoist her out, according to authorities. She was flown to the hospital for further medical treatment, the fire department said. The hiker's current condition is not clear.
The Cleveland Clinic warns that, while it's rare, fire ant bites can cause life-threatening reactions. The painful, itchy bites are usually found on a person's legs and feet, according to experts. A person usually gets bitten by a fire ant when they step on the ground where the bugs live, and their skin is exposed, the Cleveland Clinic explains. Fire ant bites first cause a burning or stinging sensation, followed by itchy bumps or welts that eventually turn into blisters, experts say. These blisters usually clear up in about a week, but in severe cases, victims may even lose consciousness or go into cardiac arrest.
Past incidents include a viper bite in Norway with severe long-term effects. Heidi Øverland was bitten by a large and fat viper while hiking in the forest at Neslandsvatn in Drangedal. She called for help, but there was no phone coverage at Neslandsvatn in Drangedal. She was driven to the emergency room and received an allergy tablet. Her leg became swollen and red, and she had to be transported by ambulance to the hospital in Skien. She was hospitalized for several hours, received antivenom, and fainted a couple of times. Her leg continued to swell, and a new dose of antivenom was needed. The incident happened six years ago but still affects her. She was hospitalized for nine days and was on sick leave. Her leg was completely blue-black. After five to six weeks, she could barely put on a shoe. It took half a year before she could walk normally on her leg.
Thor Håkonsen, a board member of the Norwegian Herpetological Association, said Øverland was very unlucky with the bite. He said it is not common, but in the worst case, it can happen with a solid dose of venom from a viper. He said there is no reason to be afraid of being bitten. He said that in relation to how many people walk in viper terrain, very few are bitten. Viper season begins in mid-March, as soon as the snow is gone. But they are most active in late April and May, due to the mating season. Then they disappear into the terrain. That's when the challenges come because we don't see them. But it takes a lot to come into contact with the snakes. You almost have to step on them for any accidents to happen, and even then, a bite is quite rare. If an accident does occur, and you are an adult and healthy, you should observe the bite before calling for help. If you get symptoms like headache, vomiting, and nausea, you should contact 113. Children, the elderly, and animals should go to the emergency room immediately.
Heidi Øverland has never been afraid of vipers. She has always told everyone she has been hiking with in the forest that vipers just disappear if you step a little. They are so small and terrified of us. But the experience Heidi Øverland had in August six years ago has left its mark.