.png)
Bees attack young children: Around 44 young children were sent to hospitals in South Africa after they were attacked by bees.
Bees fly on March 6, 2013 in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany. (Frank Rempenhorst/AFP/Getty Images)
Forty-four children in South Africa were hospitalized Friday after bees attacked them, it was reported. Four were critically injured.
A group of around 80 preschoolers between the ages of 2 and 6 were visiting “Bunny Park” near Johannesburg, reported ABC News Radio.
After the kids played with the rabbits and were waiting for a bus, they were stung by a large swarm of bees, the broadcaster said.
“They were waiting for a bus when things went drastically wrong. A swarm of bees came out of nowhere and attacked the children,” Chris Botha, a spokesman for an ambulance service, told BNO News in South Africa.
It was unclear exactly how many children were stung or injured in the incident.
“Four of them were in a critical condition when the paramedics arrived on scene,” Botha added. “One of the critically injured children was airlifted with the Netcare medical helicopter to the Charlotte Maxeke hospital “
Authorities are unsure what exactly caused the bees to attack them, saying the swarm likely did not belong to the Africanized honey bee variety, also known as “killer bees.” Africanized honey bees, a hybrid of African honey bees and European honey bees, are highly defensive and relentlessly attack in swarms.
Botha said, “I am a bee keeper and we only have African bees here, commonly known as the honey bee.”
Eyewitness News reported that at least 300 children were stung in all.
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 21 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
