A bee attack yesterday at Number 27 Village, West Coast Berbice has left one fisherman dead, two hospitalized in serious conditions and several others with stings.
The fishermen were on their way to register for the government’s fisherfolk grant which was recently announced when they were attacked by the bees.
Dead is Winston Rigby, 71, of Number 41 Village, West Coast Berbice. Injured are Rigby’s brothers: William Rigby, 44 of Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice; Kenneth Rigby, 72 of El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice; and Basil Ramesh Davie, 56, of Bushlot Village; Leon Bobb, 61 of Belladrum Village; Glenroy Fraser, 62, of Number 22, and Charles Cadogan, 59 both of Bel Air.
William last evening told Stabroek News that they were in the pump station street at Number 27 Village, West Coast Berbice, heading to register for their fishermen’s grant when they were suddenly attacked by a swarm of bees just after 1 pm.
According to William, he was on his bicycle behind the other men who were walking out of the street. He said, he suddenly noticed his brothers and others running and upon looking up the road he saw the bees.
At that stage they all began running while one person plunged into a nearby trench.
He recalled that after arriving on the main road the now-deceased who suffered the majority of the stings initially told them that he was okay but just needed five minutes to sit on the road.
“He say he alright and say let we give he five minutes… I go over the road to go and give my ID card and my brother Kenneth holla and say watch wah happen, and when I watch Winston deh fighting up.”
The man was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he died shortly after arriving, William said. Doctors at the institution also examined the other men who were involved in the attack.
According to William, two were admitted in a serious condition while the others were treated and sent home with medications.
William and others reported last evening that they had reported the presence of the bees over one month ago to the regional authorities. However, they were informed that the persons were not able to locate the bees in the street at that time.
