North Texas man who was stung in attack by swarm of bees dies in hospital

A man who was attacked by bees last month in North Richland Hills has died, according to his longtime partner.

Patricia Byrns, 74, told KDFW-TV that she and 72-year-old Lonnie Dorsey were attacked by the swarm outside their home on Sept. 24.

The North Richland Hills police and fire departments responded to couple’s home, in the 8000 block of Cross Drive.

Byrns told KDFW that she heard Dorsey scream after he went outside to mow the lawn. Dorsey, who was allergic to bees, was stung multiple times all over his body, and Byrns was stung when she tried to help him, she said. Both were taken to a hospital, where Dorsey later died.

Local beekeepers were called in to remove the colony of insects and nests, which also included wasp nests, from the neighborhood, according to police.

“We had to cut the tree open in order to get the bees out,” beekeeper Eric Etheredge told WFAA-TV. “... They don’t have much food source and they could be protecting their hives. So, it’s always safe when you see a bee hive to contact a beekeeper to safely remove the hives.”

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