Father is left in agony after stepping on nest of rare European hornets and getting stung 37 TIMES

  • David Williams-Jones, 42, from Bassaleg, in South Wales, stung 37 times
  • Was attacked while out with his son, Harvey, at the Kenfit Nature Reserve 
  • Said he is still suffering from 'nightmares of flying insects attacking me'
  • Two-inch European hornets can cause death if person stung is allergic 

By THOMAS BURROWS FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

A father was left in agony after stepping on a nest of rare European hornets and getting stung 37 times.

David Williams-Jones, 42, from Bassaleg, in South Wales, was attacked while he was out with his 10-year-son, Harvey.

He accidentally trod on the nest and was immediately swarmed by the hornets which repeatedly stung him on the left arm.

The two-inch European hornets have a more painful sting than other insects in the wasp family and can cause death if the person stung is allergic. 

A sting from a European hornet can lead to victims requiring hospital treatment - and they keep themselves nourished by eating bees, wasps and moths

A sting from a European hornet can lead to victims requiring hospital treatment - and they keep themselves nourished by eating bees, wasps and moths

Mr Williams-Jones still has marks from the stings on his left arm and says he has been left 'traumatised' 

Mr Williams-Jones still has marks from the stings on his left arm and says he has been left 'traumatised' 

Recalling the incident, he said: 'They could have killed my son if he hadn't got away.  

'My son began running and thankfully got away but I was attacked by a swarm of hornets that kept stinging me despite me trying to flee.

'I've heard stories in the past where hornets have killed the young and the elderly so I am incredibly thankful Harvey managed to get away.

'The attack's left me traumatised and it's had a massive impact on my life as I sometimes have visions and nightmares of flying insects attacking me.'

The 42-year-old father says he was relieved the hornets targeted him and not his son, Harvey, 10

The 42-year-old father says he was relieved the hornets targeted him and not his son, Harvey, 10

He was attacked while on a trip to visiting Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Bridgend with Harvey and is still covered in marks.

He said: 'My ordeal was complete and utter hell and I would hate for anyone to have to go through what I went through.

'To heal the wounds I sustained I am regularly having sunbeds which seem to help with the redness.'

A council spokesman said the reserve was an unlikely habitat for hornets but added that an investigation was underway. 

EUROPEAN HORNET WHICH CAN CAUSE DEATH IF PERSON IS ALLERGIC

The European hornet is mostly found in south east England and as far north as Nottinghamshire. Adults range in size between 2 and 5cm in length and are usually seen in woodlands, parks and gardens between May and November.

Hornets often nest in holes in trees, although nests have been found in attics, roofs and occasionally in the ground. They build nests by scraping wood from trees and buildings and mixing it with their saliva to form a pulp.

A European hornet nest may consist of 200 to 400 individuals (with larger colonies numbering more than 1,000 hornets). 

Unlike common wasps which fly by day, hornets fly by day and after dark. They can sting but are not usually aggressive and are known to feed on large insects such as grasshoppers, flies and bees. 

 

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