Bee attack kills fisherman, two hospitalised, four others injured

A bee attack on Thursday afternoon at No. 27 Village, West Coast Berbice, resulted in the death of a man, the hospitalization of two persons and four others are nursing injuries.

Dead is 71-year-old Winston Rigby of No.41 Village. The other fishermen who sustained bee stings were identified as William Rigby, 44 of Onderneeming; Kenneth Rigby, 72 of El Dorado Village (brothers of the deceased); Basil Ramesh Davie, 56 of Bushlot Village; Leon Bobb, 61 of Belladrum; Glenroy Fraser, 62 of No.22 Bel Air, and Charles Cadogen, 59 also of Bel Air.

They are all fishermen.

According to William, he, his brothers and the other men, were making their way out of the No.27 Village pump station dam to register for the fisherman’s cash grant when they were attacked by a swarm of Africanized bees.

He said he was riding his bicycle while the other men were making their way out on foot some 300-400 feet in front of him.

William said he noticed when the men started to run and saw when one of them plunged into a nearby trench.

They eventually made it out to the public road when his brother, Winston, sat down.

“He said he alright and said let we give he five minutes, so I go over the road to go and give my ID card and then my brother Kenneth say watch.”

Upon looking, William saw Winston “fighting up”. He immediately flagged a car down and rushed him to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he died shortly after.

Two of the other fishermen are in a serious condition while the others were treated and sent away.

According to William, a while ago he reported the presence of the bees to the Regional Democratic Council of Region Five.