An American Man and His Son Die After Wasp Stings in Laos
An American man and his teenage son tragically died last month after being attacked by a swarm of wasps while ziplining at an adventure camp in Laos, according to hospital officials.
Dan Owen, director of an international school in Vietnam, and his son Cooper were stung dozens of times on October 15 at Green Jungle Park while descending from a tree at the end of the zip line.
The camp is located near Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995 and a popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia.
They were initially treated at a local clinic before being rushed to Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital in critical condition. Emergency room physician Jorvue Yianouchongteng explained their condition:
“The son was unconscious and passed away after half an hour, while the father was conscious and passed away about three hours later. We tried our best to save them but we couldn't.”
The doctor described both victims as having suffered severe anaphylactic shock from being stung more than 100 times across their bodies, though the exact cause of death had not been confirmed.
The Asian giant hornet, known as the “murder hornet” for its aggressive nature toward other insects, is native to Laos, along with other wasp species.
Summary: An American father and son died in Laos due to severe anaphylactic shock after multiple wasp stings during a ziplining activity in a popular tourist area.