Just one week after a deadly bee attack claimed the life of a young contractor at Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD), tragedy has struck again — this time at Enterprise backlands — where a 67-year-old man died after being swarmed by bees while carrying out work on his property.
Dead is Lennox “Mikey” Luke, of Kitty, Georgetown. Police said the incident occurred between 09:30 hrs and 10:45 hrs on Wednesday, when Luke and a construction worker, Selwyn Dean, 29, also of Kitty, went to clean and fence a plot of land at Enterprise backlands.
According to the Police, while the men were working, a large swarm of bees suddenly emerged from nearby bushes and launched an attack. In an attempt to flee, Dean ran forward, while Luke retreated but fell to the ground, where he was overtaken by the swarm.
Dean managed to escape with minor stings, but Luke was left motionless and under heavy attack. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and personnel from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) were summoned to the scene. They “smoked” the area to disperse the bees and, with the help of public-spirited citizens, managed to retrieve Luke’s body.
He was taken in an unconscious state to the Enmore Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 11:20 hrs despite efforts to resuscitate him.
Police said marks were visible on Luke’s back, forearm, and the back of his head. His body is now at Jerricks Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.
This incident follows another fatal bee attack last week Wednesday at Surat Drive, Triumph, ECD, which claimed the life of 29-year-old contractor Winston Semple and left his colleague, 40-year-old Glendon Simpson, hospitalised in critical condition.
Semple and Simpson had been working on a road construction project when a swarm of bees descended on them, leaving both men with multiple stings. Semple was pronounced dead on arrival at the Enmore Regional Hospital, while Simpson remains under medical care.
The two deaths within a week have raised concerns about bee infestations in several East Coast communities, with residents calling for urgent action to identify and safely remove hives located close to populated and work areas.
Police investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
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