An American man, his son die after suffering stings from swarm of wasps while ziplining in Laos - The Tribune

An American Man and His Son Die from Wasp Stings While Ziplining in Laos

An American man and his teenage son died last month after being attacked by a swarm of wasps while ziplining at an adventure camp in Laos. They were stung many dozens of times during the incident, a hospital official reported on Thursday.

Dan Owen, who was the director of an international school in nearby Vietnam, and his son Cooper were descending from a tree at the end of the zip line on October 15 at Green Jungle Park when the wasps swarmed them.

This camp is located outside the city of Luang Prabang, a notable tourist destination in Southeast Asia, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

After the attack, they were initially taken to a local clinic, and then transferred to Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital. They arrived in critical condition, according to Jorvue Yianouchongteng, the emergency room physician who treated them.

“The son was unconscious and passed away after half an hour, while the father was conscious and passed away about three hours later. We tried our best to save them but we couldn't.”

The doctor explained that both had suffered from severe anaphylactic shock after receiving more than 100 stings across their bodies. However, the exact cause of death had not been confirmed.

The Asian giant hornet, often called the “murder hornet” because of its aggressive nature toward other insects, is native to Laos. Several other wasp species are also found in the region.

Summary

The tragic deaths of an American father and son in Laos highlight the dangers of wasp attacks, with severe allergic reactions leading to fatal anaphylactic shock despite medical efforts.

more

The Tribune The Tribune — 2025-11-06

More News