A father and daughter died after being stung by bees when she crashed her car into a hive and he went to help her. Silvana da Fatima Braganca da Luz, 54, was attacked by the bees after she lost control of her truck and smashed into a beehive by the side of the dirt track she was on. A neighbour who heard noise alerted her parents as they waited for emergency responders to reach the rural area where they lived.
Fatima’s dad Raul Portela da Luz, 79, was also badly stung as he tried to save her in the upturned vehicle and died the day after from his injuries in the hospital he had been rushed to. His 72-year-old wife, who has not been named, was also stung but was discharged from hospital following treatment. The drama occurred in the municipality of Vacaria in the north-east of the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Firefighters were the first emergency responders to reach the area but took time to arrive because their station was nearly 40 miles from the scene.
A spokesman for the fire crews said: “The victims suffered hundreds of bites. When the team arrived at the scene, the crash victim was still alive, so death did not occur at the time the car rolled.”
Police have begun an investigation as they await official confirmation Raul and his daughter both died as a result of the bee stings they suffered.
Shocked Juliano Gibbert said: “These are lives that could have been saved.
“Beehives should never be near roads. Bees are unpredictable and can attack people for many reasons.”
Ruth Vieira, recounting a similar experience, responded on social media by writing: “A family friend was travelling to a relative’s funeral wake when their car overturned.
“He escaped the accident unharmed but a swarm of bees attacked him and he died at the scene.
“His sister also died in the accident. Very sad.”
