Durban - Two dogs were killed after they were attacked by a swarm of bees on a property in Redcliffe, in Verulam, north of Durban on Sunday afternoon.
Security company Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) said in a statement that it received a call from a member of the public at approximately 4:04pm who requested assistance at his neighbours’ property.
“Reaction Officers were dispatched to the home and on arrival found the swarm attacking both dogs under a car port at the rear of the property. A Reaction Officer removed both pets from the yard,” said Rusa spokesperson Prem Balram.
He said the dogs sustained hundreds of stings and died shortly thereafter as a result of their injuries.
He also said that the 49-year-old homeowner and his 20-year-old daughter were also stung when they attempted to rescue their pets.
“They did not require medical attention. The Reaction Officer also sustained multiple stings.”
In February this year, two people were injured when they were attacked by a swarm of bees on the KZN North Coast.
IOL reported at the time that five workers had been cleaning a roof when they came under attack. In another incident also in February on the KZN South Coast, workers were stung by a swarm of bees while working with chainsaws in a garden.
It was also reported that in January, six people were stung by a swarm of bees in Ballito while mowing lawns when they disturbed a bee hive. Two people were left in a critical condition.
Also in January, Brandon Marimuthu of Newlands West, died in hospital after being stung by a swarm of bees.