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Cyclist dies after swallowing bee

Rider in Spain’s Valencian Community is thought to have suffered allergic reaction after being stung in throat

A cyclist in Spain’s Valencian Community region has died after swallowing a bee, with medics believing he may have suffered an allergic reaction after the insect stung him.

The incident happened on Sunday morning when the cyclist, a 59-year-old man from Algemesí, was out on a group ride with friends, reports Las Provincias.

The group was riding near Finca de Sinyent, a huge experimental farm set up with the goal of leading sustainable agriculture practice in Europe, close to the town of Polinyà de Xúquer, a popular location for cycling.

One of the riders went into cardiorespiratory arrest after swallowing a bee, with his friends calling the emergency services as he struggled to breathe.

Paramedics and police rushed to the scene but were unable to save the rider, despite making a number of efforts to resuscitate him using different methods.

According to Las Provincias, there have been several deaths attributable to bee stings in the region in recent years with the victims often agricultural workers.

As well as being unaware that they are allergic to bee stings in the first place, the appearance of natural (rather than farmed) beehives in unexpected locations during the springtime is also cited as a factor in some fatal incidents.

Bees can also be attracted by human sweat, and in 2017 we reported how four mountain bikers taking part in a race near Granada in Spain's Andalucia region needed hospital treatment after they were attacked by a swarm of bees, with one of the riders stung 80 times, with the incident caught on video.

> Video: Mountain bikers attacked by swarm of bees

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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9 comments

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brooksby | 3 years ago
0 likes

...

Avatar
wtjs | 3 years ago
1 like

At first I thought the video above ws a con, with digital bees demonstrating the ability of modern faking. However, I think now it's absolutely genuine. An alarming incident, to say nothing of the sad death.

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visionset | 3 years ago
1 like

I'm reliably (or not so) informed by the missus that exercise and a bee sting (& pob others), is not a good mix.  The elevated mix of hormones etc are incompatible with the bodies responses to counter the sting.  So not necessarily an alergy issue.  Top tip, stop riding, keep still, get help!

Avatar
ktache | 3 years ago
4 likes

Poor bloke, and a desperate situation for his riding buddies.

As I understand it bee sting alergy can develop at any point.

A bee flew into my mouth last year when I was out for a birthday ride last summer, felt the hairyness, it stung me on the roof of my mouth before I could spit it out, quite a bit of inflamation and I stayed by houses on the road to see if I might need assistance.  Luckily not, and I continued on my off road loop.  If it had got me on the tongue it could have been worse, and really bad if it had gone down further.

Sometimes you just forget about not breathing through the mouth when you are pushing hard and having too much fun.  Needing to suck in that extra air.

Avatar
brooksby replied to ktache | 3 years ago
2 likes

A wasp flew into my mouth, summer before last. I think it was as surprised as I was because it didn't sting; just scraped the roof of my mouth, I spat it out and watched it fly away 

Avatar
Jenova20 replied to ktache | 3 years ago
2 likes

ktache wrote:

Poor bloke, and a desperate situation for his riding buddies.

As I understand it bee sting alergy can develop at any point.

A bee flew into my mouth last year when I was out for a birthday ride last summer, felt the hairyness, it stung me on the roof of my mouth before I could spit it out, quite a bit of inflamation and I stayed by houses on the road to see if I might need assistance.  Luckily not, and I continued on my off road loop.  If it had got me on the tongue it could have been worse, and really bad if it had gone down further.

Sometimes you just forget about not breathing through the mouth when you are pushing hard and having too much fun.  Needing to suck in that extra air.

My nan once swallowed one at a park (it managed to get into her drink) and as i remember it she was advised to eat a yoghurt on the way to the hospital. I believe the traditional medicine was to eat a spider...followed by a bird...then a cat...a dog...

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brooksby replied to Jenova20 | 3 years ago
0 likes

"Would you care for an hors d'oeuvres, Dr Seward?"

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Compact Corned Beef replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
0 likes

Now you sound like Tom Waits  1

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RoubaixCube | 3 years ago
3 likes

well, Thats one unfortunate way to go.

my condolences to all his friends and family.

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