An American teacher and his teenage son have died after being attacked by a swarm of hundreds of hornets while on a ziplining holiday in Laos. Daniel Owen, 47, and his 15-year-old son Cooper were killed on 15 October at an eco-adventure resort near Luang Prabang, the US embassy in Laos confirmed.
According to a source close to US diplomats in Laos, the pair were attacked by what are believed to be Asian giant hornets while trying to descend from a tree. Their bodies were 'covered in red spots' after the 'very, very painful' attack, said Dr Phanomsay Phakan of the Phakan Arocavet Clinic, where they were first taken. He noted more than 100 stings over their bodies, describing it as the worst he had ever seen.
The father and son arrived at the clinic conscious and showed no signs of anaphylactic shock, but died hours later after being transferred to Luang Prabang provincial hospital. Daniel Owen was director of QSI International School in Haiphong, Vietnam, and had been on holiday in Laos.
In a Facebook post, QSI said it was 'deeply saddened' by the deaths, noting that Dan dedicated 18 years to the organisation across five schools. Colleagues and former pupils paid tribute, with one former student recalling how Mr Owen helped her pursue university education despite financial constraints.
Green Jungle Park, where the incident occurred, extended its condolences and said it had reviewed all procedures. Asian giant hornets, the world's largest, are native to parts of Asia and have recently spread to western Europe. Their venom can be fatal in large doses, with dozens of deaths reported annually.
