A 55-year-old amateur beekeeper from the Isle of Wight has died after suffering a catastrophic allergic reaction to a bee sting, a coroner's court has heard.
Tragic Incident While Tending Hives
Alan Ransom, a civil engineer from Godshill, was attending to his beehives at Marvel Solar Farm Aviary on 10 May 2024 when the incident occurred. The inquest heard he was not wearing his protective beekeeper's hat at the time and was stung on his left ear.
Mr Ransom, who had around six years of beekeeping experience, rapidly went into anaphylactic shock. Emergency services, including the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, rushed to the scene. He was transported to St Mary's Hospital on the island but died five days later, on 15 May 2024.
Coroner's Findings and Medical Cause
At a written inquest held at the Isle of Wight Coroner's Court, Coroner Caroline Sumeray concluded the cause of death was misadventure.
The medical cause was recorded as hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy – brain injuries caused by a lack of oxygen – which resulted from the anaphylactic shock triggered by the bee sting.
A Passionate Hobbyist Remembered
Alan Ransom, who originally hailed from Epsom in Surrey, was a dedicated hobbyist. He typically produced about 40 jars of honey annually from his several active hives and ran a YouTube channel named 'The Vectis Bee Man', where he documented his beekeeping journey.
In 2023, he made local news by safely rehoming a swarm of approximately 2,000 bees that had settled in the car park of his employer, highway maintenance company Island Roads, in Newport.
Following his death, his friends and family raised over £1,500 for Cancer Research UK in his memory. Tributes described him as a 'great man and a great friend' and a 'kind and gentle soul'.
The Isle of Wight Beekeepers Association expressed sorrow at the loss of one of their members, extending their thoughts to his family.
