Arizona hiker dies after stung by more than 1,000 bees

The Sheriff's Office said the bees attacked 'without provocation'

Washington Post/Getty (Washington Post)

A 23-year-old hiker died after a swarm of at least 1,000 bees attacked him while hiking in Arizona.

The hiker, Alex Bestler of Louisiana, and his girlfriend, identified as Sonya, were hiking along the Merkle Trail in the Usery Mountain Park in Mesa Thursday morning before the swarm appeared “without provocation or warning,” the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

Sonya was ahead of Mr Bestler and survived the attack by running into a nearby restroom.

The sheriff said that all attempts made by a Good Samaritan and park staff were unsuccessful, as he was covered by the “aggressiveness” and “hostility” of the bees.

A sergeant with the Sheriff’s Office was finally able to move Mr Bestler’s body with the help of two Rural Metro firefighters. They loaded him onto a park Utility Vehicle and removed him from the scene, “still covered with bees, and a swarm pursuing.”

Once the swarm dissipated, first responders began life-saving measures before transporting Mr Bestler to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The county medical examiner estimated more than a thousand bee stings on Mr Bestler’s body.

“These attacks are becoming more frequent and I urge the public to be aware of their surroundings when out in these areas,” Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in a statement.

In April, a swarm of 20,000 Africanised bees escaped their hive and attacked a Phoenix mosque. Twenty people were stung, and one man was sent to the hospital.