A Kentucky man died after he was attacked and stung by a swarm of wasps hidden in the mud on the porch of his Harlan County home.
Michael Wayne Alford, 59, was moving an old bag of potting soil when wasps hiding in the bag became defensive.
Alford was cleaning the porch and throwing away the soil, Mitch Alford, his son, told MailOnline.com.
According to the Harlan County coroner’s office, the wasps suddenly appeared and stung him press release.
He passed out within 30 minutes of being bitten, Mitch said.
Alford’s daughter Marlana Ledford was resuscitating him when Mitch rushed to the scene. And he found his father lying on the ground and unresponsive.
“We did everything we could,” he said.
Alford was taken to a hospital by ambulance, but did not survive the unexpected attack.
Mike Alford, 59, was moving an old bag of potting soil to the porch of his home in Harlan, Kentucky, when he was attacked by wasps and later died.
Alford is survived by his wife of 41 years, three children and eleven grandchildren. He spent his entire life in Halan, Kentucky
The former gas station manager died in the emergency room of Harlan ARH Hospital at 5:50 PM on Monday, about two hours after the attack. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, three children and 11 grandchildren.
The Harlan County coroner’s office is investigating the death, Deputy Coroner John W. Jones said. The coroner’s office has not identified the victim, but family members released his name to MailOnline.com.
“Our sincere prayers go out to all the family and friends,” Jones said.
Doctors said the death was “unexpected and completely accidental,” Mitch said.
“It’s a big burden for us… my mother and the whole family,” he added.
His daughter Marlana Ledford started a GoFundMe page for funeral expenses, since Alford had no life insurance
Alford (left), born in 1964, spent his entire life in Harlan, Kentucky. According to his obituary, he enjoyed driving, playing the piano, collecting knives and chopping
His daughter Marlana Ledford started one GoFundMe page for funeral expenses, as Alford did not have life insurance.
“I’m way out of my comfort zone with this,” Ledford wrote on social media. She said all donations will go toward funeral and burial expenses.
A total of $2,055 was raised as of Thursday morning, about half of their $4,000 goal.
Visitation and funeral services for Alford will be held this Saturday at Evarts Funeral Home.
Alford was born in 1964 and spent his entire life in Harlan, Kentucky. According to his obituary, he enjoyed driving, playing the piano, collecting knives and chopping.
‘My father was very modest. He was a quiet and reserved man, also very committed to Christianity,” Mitch said.
He said his father suffered from several health problems, including heart disease. Alford also had surgery years ago.
Alford worked as a gas station manager in the area.
The Harlan County Coroner’s Office pronounced Alford dead Monday at 5:50 p.m. and notified his next of kin
Honey bees (pictured) are not typically considered aggressive, but yellow jackets can become very aggressive to protect their home
Most bee stings are not fatal, but venom can quickly build up in a dozen or so stings, which can lead to a medical emergency in children and older adults
A total of 788 deaths from hornet, wasp and bee stings occurred between 2011 and 2022 with an average of 72 deaths per year, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Overall, 84 percent of deaths occurred in men.
Although most bee stings are not fatal, severe allergic reactions can happen to some people. Symptoms include hives, difficulty breathing, and a rapid, weak pulse.
The venom can build up if someone is stung more than ten times. A toxic reaction could lead to a medical emergency in children and older adults, the study said Mayo Clinic.
Bees are not usually considered aggressive, but wasps, yellow jackets and hornets can become aggressive to protect their nests.
Social media users shared experiences of being bitten by yellow vests.
‘We have been flooded with yellow vests all summer long. I have tried every means to get rid of it,” one person wrote. ‘I had one who stabbed me in the ass through my clothes. I screamed because it hurt like hell. It took a week for the pain to go away.’
