Arizona golf course worker dies after being attacked by swarm of bees

A golf course worker in southern Arizona died final month after being attacked by a swarm of bees whereas on the job, his employer mentioned. 

Rick Messina, 57, was a member of the agronomy group at El Conquistador Golf & Tennis in Oro Valley, simply north of Tuscon, the place he helped preserve the property grounds. He was stung on the morning of June 24 close to the eighth gap at Pusch Ridge Golf Course, which is one of three programs run by El Conquistador, and it was “a tragic workplace accident,” in accordance with a press release from the membership’s managers.

Messina had been mowing the tough across the Pusch Ridge course when the swarm attacked. Emergency companies took him to an area hospital, and he died three days later, on June 27, from issues because of the bee stings, in accordance with the assertion. Messina had been employed as a groundskeeper by El Conquistador since July 2022.

The membership’s administration group mentioned that skilled beekeepers had been known as on the afternoon of the assault to examine the realm instantly across the eighth gap at Pusch Ridge for beehives or different remnants of the swarm, which weren’t discovered. Citing native specialists, their assertion famous that summer season is “peak season for bee swarms” and suggested members of El Conquistador to be vigilant within the coming months. Because beekeepers didn’t discover proof of the bees that attacked Messina, the swarm was seemingly a touring one, the group mentioned.

“Rick was a dedicated and cherished member of our team, known for his exceptional work ethic, positive attitude, and unwavering commitment to his duties,” the assertion mentioned. “His sudden passing is a profound loss to our work family and our community. He will be deeply missed by all.”

Darryl Janisse, the overall supervisor of El Conquistador Golf, despatched an e mail to members of the membership notifying them of the assault and Messina’s demise. 

“It is with a heavy heart that I am emailing our membership with a tragic incident that took place at Pusch Ridge involving one of our work associates and a swarm of bees,” Janisse wrote within the e mail. He added that each one 45 holes on the membership’s programs had been inspected for beehives and bee exercise.

Janisse mentioned that the membership would set up security protocols within the wake of the assault, together with including signage to remind individuals “to always be watchful of wildlife and venomous creatures” and persevering with to coach workers on bee security. 

El Conquistador Golf and Indigo Sports, a golf course administration firm, mentioned it was directing assets towards supporting Messina’s household and workers at El Conquistador, though additional particulars weren’t offered. 

Arizona is dwelling to a quantity of completely different bee species, and specialists have mentioned that the majority don’t sometimes pose critical threats to people except they’re provoked. However, researchers on the University of Arizona and the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, a department of the U.S. Department of Agriculture based mostly in Tuscon, have additionally warned that bees’ conduct could also be unpredictable and probably aggressive. Africanized honey bees, for instance, which could be present in Arizona, are referred to as “killer bees” for his or her marked persistence throughout an assault and the potential for his or her toxins to severely harm the human physique, typically fatally. 

People are urged to keep away from areas the place there are indicators of bee colonies in addition to any transferring swarms. The Tuscon analysis middle famous that bees can turn into triggered unexpectedly after which defensively assault. Some doable triggers for bees embrace noisy equipment, and any clothes that’s textured, darkish in colour or created from leather-based.