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    75-year-old grandfather killed by swarm of bees while working on Texas ranch

    By Patrick Reilly,

    13 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3DA53x_0uexfhMK00

    A 75-year-old Texas grandfather was killed by a swarm of bees while he was working on his ranch, officials said.

    Bryce Smith was on his bulldozer clearing trees on his property in Bedias — about 90 miles north of Houston — when he took down one with a bee hive, KTBX reported .

    Smith suffered more than 60 stings on his face and neck. An employee working with Smith who witnessed the attack rushed him inside and called 911.

    He died from his injuries by the time responders arrived.

    Arizona golf course worker, 57, dies in bee attack on 8th hole: ‘Tragic workplace accident’

    “The Bedias community lost a very very good individual yesterday, a very good man. He was a wonderful husband, great dad, great grandfather to his kids. He was very well respected,” Grimes County Justice of the Peace Judge Chris Acord said.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0AHhW3_0uexfhMK00
    Bryce Smith suffered more than 60 bee stings while taking down trees on his Texas ranch. WAGM 8
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2PNnYm_0uexfhMK00
    Experts believe the bees maybe have been African honey bees. WAGM 8

    This country just approved 16 insects as food — which buggy bite would you eat?

    “The severity of what happened and how this could happen to anybody and we don’t think about these things,” said Acord.

    Texas A&M AgriLife research honeybee scientist, Juliana Rangel, told KTBX that Smith was likely killed by Africanized honey bees — which can be aggressive when frightened.

    “Africanized bees are a little bit more prone to feeling threatened by any external stimuli than more often than not, European bees,” said Rangel.

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    Rangel urged people to contact experts to remove any hives found on your property rather than try to do it themselves.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3p1Aj7_0uexfhMK00
    Smith was dead by the time EMS arrived at the ranch. WAGM 8

    “You better call a professional beekeeper that knows how to deal with live bee removals so we always recommend trying that route first, which is to call a professional beekeeper that can remove the bees live,” said Rangel.

    The Texas Apiary Inspection Service says those under attack by bees should attempt to cover their heads and faces and run to a safe place before calling 911 for help.

    Bryce leaves behind his wife, three children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, according to his obituary .

    “His love for his family and his community will always be remembered by those whose lives he touched,” his family wrote.

    For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com.

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