A 78-year-old Cummings Lodge woman was hospitalized after she was attacked by bees yesterday afternoon.

Kamardai also known as Aunty Marie of Lot 814 Fourth Field, Cummings Lodge was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after she was stung by bees, suspected to be of the africanised strain, at approximately 1.30 pm yesterday.

“It ah hurt bad bad…they sting me up on meh face, meh head and meh hand,” Karmardai told this newspaper from her hospital bed.

The woman had just left her neighbour’s house when a man, who residents said was weeding the yard where the bee hive is located, came dashing down the road in a desperate effort to escape the ferocious insects.

According to Karmardai’s neighbour, the man shouted no warning and the bees soon attacked the old woman who was on her way home.

“The bees swarm all over she face and head and she started to scream for help,” the resident explained. “My brother-in-law heard and he rushed outside with a basin of water to throw on her but he get sting as well.”

A woman, the resident said, wrapped herself in a sheet and tried spraying Baygon on the bees and it was only then the bees eased off the old lady. Kamardai’s face was swollen with bumps and the woman began vomiting after the attack. Residents called an ambulance but explained it arrived more than 90 minutes later.

In photo is the tree where the bees nested.

The bee hive is located in a Jamoon tree in the yard where the man was weeding, however, no one lives there and residents are not sure who owns the place. The sounds and vibration from the weeding machine disturbed the bees.

Apiculturist attached to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lindon Stuart was immediately informed. However, residents told this newspaper that the man was unable to do anything about the hive because he didn’t have a ladder. Stuart will return to Cummings Lodge today.

When contacted by Stabroek News last evening Stuart explained that the hive serves as a home to approximately 80,000 bees.