Struck by a Hornet, One Team Member Went into Shock on the Spot
A Narrow Encounter
Attacked by Hornets, One Team Member Collapsed from Shock
Early yesterday morning, Mr. Zhu led a group of seven people on a hiking trip to Huashan for exercise. Around 9 a.m., they began ascending from a trail on the southern side of Huashan. After climbing for about ten minutes, they reached the mountainside. Mr. Lu, who was second in line, was walking through a patch of bushes when a thumb-sized hornet suddenly flew out and charged straight at him. He didn’t have time to dodge and felt a sharp pain on his forehead.
Initially, after being stung, Mr. Lu thought it was just painful and believed he could endure it, even planning to continue hiking. But within minutes, he began experiencing nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and overall redness, quickly losing consciousness. Mr. Zhu, the team leader, said that upon seeing a teammate get stung, he hurried down the mountain, found two members of the local patrol, and called 120 to contact emergency services. Rescue personnel then arrived and helped carry Mr. Lu down the mountain. During this time, more hornets emerged from the bushes, and Mr. Zhu was also stung on the forehead while running back and forth. Fortunately, he did not experience any other adverse reactions.
Fear of Hornets
Five Team Members Attacked Within One Month
By the time Mr. Lu was taken to the hospital, he was still in shock. Emergency room doctors explained that, given his condition at the time, failure to provide timely treatment could have been life-threatening. Fortunately, after nearly 15 minutes of intense emergency care, his condition gradually improved. In the ward, Mr. Lu was still receiving intravenous treatment. Reporters observed that the sting was on his left forehead, where a swelling about two centimeters long had not yet subsided. Mr. Lu said that 20 years ago, he had also been stung by a hornet during an outdoor activity, but back then it only caused pain without any other symptoms. “I didn’t expect this one to be so severe. Maybe this hornet’s venom is particularly potent,” he said.
“It’s possible that the earlier hikers disturbed the hornets, prompting them to attack those who entered their territory,” Mr. Zhu told reporters. They later discovered a football-sized hornet nest beside the mountain path. The hornet that stung Mr. Lu was the largest, likely the queen, while the ones that attacked him were noticeably smaller. Mr. Zhu said that they often organize hiking activities for enthusiasts and have noticed a particularly high number of hornets in the mountains. Since October 1st, during several hiking trips, five team members have been stung by hornets, though fortunately none have experienced serious adverse reactions.
Doctor’s Warning
Avoid Remote Areas, Especially Those with Allergies
Dr. Guo Ying, an attending physician in the emergency department of Suzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, told reporters that since September, there has been a significant increase in patients suffering from stings or bites by hornets, snakes, and centipedes—nearly 2 to 3 cases are treated daily, with over 20 incidents reported since the start of October. He said that among the recent patients, those injured in remote, wild areas such as desolate mountains and forests experienced more severe allergic or toxic reactions from hornet or snake stings and bites. Additionally, the severity of hornet stings also depends on an individual’s physical constitution. People with allergic constitutions are more prone to allergic reactions after being stung, which can sometimes be life-threatening.
Dr. Guo advised that people who enjoy outdoor activities should try to avoid venturing into remote areas. Before heading out, individuals prone to allergies may want to carry some antihistamine medications. And in the event that someone is stung or bitten by a hornet or snake, it’s important to observe them closely. If symptoms such as palpitations or difficulty breathing occur, they should drink warm water, lightly salted water, or sugar water to alleviate allergic reactions and seek immediate medical attention.