A hobbyist beekeeper died after suffering a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting, an inquest has heard. Alan Ransom, 55, from Godshill on the Isle of Wight, went into anaphylactic shock and died after being stung on his ear while handling the insects.
The inquest heard that Mr Ransom was not wearing his beekeeper’s hat at the time. He died on 15 May 2024 at St Mary’s Hospital on the island. The medical cause of death was recorded as hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, caused by anaphylactic shock as a reaction to a bee sting.
Mr Ransom, who described himself as a hobbyist beekeeper, had around six years of experience and kept bees at Marvel Solar Farm Aviary, where he had several active hives. He typically produced about 40 jars of honey each year and ran a YouTube channel called 'The Vectis Bee Man'.
He worked as a civil engineer for highway maintenance company Island Roads. In 2023, he rehomed a swarm of around 2,000 bees that had settled in the car park at the company’s Newport headquarters, safely transporting them to one of his hives.
Coroner Caroline Sumeray recorded the death as due to anaphylactic shock from a bee sting. The inquest concluded that Mr Ransom’s death was a tragic accident.
