66-year-old was clearing forest land in Mondim de Basto
A worker from the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) died today in Mondim de Basto after being stung by an Asian hornet, a source from the Ave Sub-Regional Command has confirmed.
According to the source, the 66-year-old man, along with various work colleagues, was clearing forest land in the parish of Atei, in Mondim de Basto, Vila Real district, when he was stung by the hornet and went into cardiac arrest.
The incident was called in at 9.20am and, although the Vila Real Emergency Medical Resuscitation Vehicle (VMER) was summoned, the man did not respond to resuscitation efforts, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Asian hornets have been steadily encroaching on Portuguese territory since the early 2000s. They pose a major threat to honeybees and pack a significant sting. This is not the first time a death on national territory has been precipitated by these invasive insects. ND
Source: Lusa
