Luangta Uthai Ninthawat, 75, was stung more than 100 times all over his body by aggressive hornets after stumbling across a nest while feeding wild animals in a Thailand forest
A Buddhist monk was discovered dead in a Thailand forest after being stung to death by a swarm of hornets while feeding wild animals.
Luangta Uthai Ninthawat, 75, was found dead near the Wat Khao Kamphra temple in Lopburi on July 21. The monk regularly ventured into the woodland to give food to stray dogs and squirrels. But during his last trip Luangta stumbled upon a hornet’s nest and he was stung more than 100 times all over his body. His lifeless body was discovered by villagers with an aggressive cloud of crazed hornets still buzzing overhead.
Luangta was last seen venturing into the woodland with a bowl of food leftovers for the animals. Rescuers arrived at the scene at around 5.30pm but they were unable to collect his body due to the aggressive behaviour of the hornets.
Exterminators in protective gear had to be called to remove the hornet’s nest before they could safely retrieve the monk’s corpse. Luangta’s body was visibly purple as a result of the attack, while his face was heavily swollen.
Village council leader Prayoon Chanchuen said: “Before Luangta was stung, he would kindly share leftover food from his alms bowl with stray dogs, squirrels and chipmunks every day to care for the animals living in the trees surrounding the temple.
“Neither the monks nor the villagers knew there was a hornet nest nearby. He must have unknowingly walked too close so the hornets stung him to death.”
The nest was burned down following the incident and local authorities, with the help of residents and rescue teams, scoured the area around the temple to check if there were any more nests.
Hornet attacks can be fatal especially if a person is stung numerous times or has an allergic reaction. The venom can cause severe pain, swelling, and can lead to organ failure and death if not treated promptly.
The tragic hornet attack came two days after a toddler was stung to death by wasps in Nakhon Ratchasima. Narathip, also known as Akhin, aged two, was riding a bike with other kids near an abandoned rice mill when a cloud of the territorial insects descended on him on July 19.
His father rushed into the swarm to save him. However, he died six hours later at the hospital while his father remains in critical condition.