A tragic incident occurred in Laos last month when a father and his teenage son were killed after being stung over 100 times by a swarm of Asian giant hornets, commonly referred to as "murder hornets." The victims, Daniel Owen, 46, originally from Idaho, and his 15-year-old son Cooper, were ziplining at Green Jungle Park, an eco-adventure resort, on October 15.

The family was visiting Laos from Vietnam, where Daniel serves as the director of an international school. While descending from a tree at the resort, they were attacked by the aggressive hornets, which can have stingers up to six millimeters long. After the incident, they were quickly transported to the Phakan Arocavet Clinic, located about 30 minutes away in Luang Prabang.

According to the local physician, Phanomsay Phakan, both Daniel and Cooper did not initially show signs of allergic reactions. However, he noted, "A lot of stings, more than 100, over the whole body. I thought already that it’s a very dangerous situation because I had never seen it as bad as that."

Due to the severity of their condition and the clinic's limited capacity, they were referred to a nearby provincial hospital. Unfortunately, both father and son died within hours of the attack. The exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Phanomsay described the situation as "very brief and rushed" in an email.

The U.S. State Department confirmed the deaths of the two American citizens but declined to provide further comments, citing respect for the family's privacy during this difficult time. While the specific species of hornets involved has not been confirmed, it is believed they were the notorious murder hornets, which are the largest known hornet species in the world, measuring between 3.5 and 5 centimeters.

The venom from these hornets contains several toxins that can cause severe health issues, including muscle breakdown and kidney failure. Health experts have indicated that the risk of serious outcomes increases with the number of stings. One guideline suggests that individuals with more than 50 stings should be hospitalized, although fatal cases have occurred with fewer stings.

The murder hornets were previously reported in the U.S. but were declared eradicated last year after being found in Washington State and near the Canadian border. The Invasive Species Centre has also stated that the species is considered eliminated in British Columbia, with no confirmed sightings since 2021.

In response to the incident, Green Jungle Park expressed condolences to the Owen family and announced improvements to their emergency response procedures, including the evacuation process for the zipline course. The park described the event as unprecedented and an unforeseeable natural occurrence.

Daniel Owen was remembered by his colleagues at QSI, where he worked for 18 years, for his warmth and commitment to education. They stated, "He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed." Former students shared their memories, highlighting the positive impact he had on their lives. One former student remarked, "I’ll never ever forget everything he taught me both inside and outside the classroom and I’ll always miss him."

The family has not yet commented publicly on the tragedy.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by aggressive wildlife and the importance of safety measures in outdoor activities.