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A couple, their two young daughters, and their baby girl are all in serious condition after they were stung by a huge swarm of bees near Nelspruit on Sunday.
ER 24 said it is understood that the family was out enjoying an afternoon drive through the veld on a nature estate just south of Nelspruit when they drove over a bee's nest.
“The bees swarmed and got into the vehicle through the open windows causing the family to panic and run,” said spokesperson, Ross Campbell.
He said the oldest daughter, believed to be about 12 years of age, ran to a nearby farmhouse to get help whilst being continually stung.
An adult at the farmhouse apparently sprayed her with water and told her to jump in the pool before calling for help. He also then drove down to see if he could find the others but had to turn back because of the swarm of angry bees.
Campbell said ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene at 18:15 and after suiting up in their fire gear, they once again tried to find the others.
“The father was heard screaming for help from a vlei where he had waded into the water with his toddler and baby in an attempt to escape the bees. Medics were able to get close enough to grab the baby and toddler and race back to the farmhouse, handing them directly to the ambulance crew who rushed them through to the hospital.”
Campbell said the oldest daughter had also by that time been taken through to hospital for further treatment.
He said more ER24 paramedics had arrived on the scene and they returned to the vlei for the father and managed to find the mother who had run back to their car in all the panic.
“They were both treated for the hundreds of bee stings they had suffered and were transported through to Mediclinic Nelspruit to join their daughters and receive further emergency care,” he said.