American Father and Son Die After Wasp Attack While Ziplining in Laos
Dan Owen and his son Cooper were attacked by a swarm of wasps at Green Jungle Park as they descended from a tree at the end of a zip line. The tragic incident occurred on October 15 at an adventure camp outside the city of Luang Prabang, a popular tourist destination in Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.
Details of the Incident
- Dan Owen, director of an international school in Vietnam, and his teenage son were stung more than 100 times by the insects.
- They were initially taken to a local clinic and then transferred to Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital in critical condition.
- Emergency room physician Jorvue Yianouchongteng reported that Cooper was unconscious upon arrival and died after about 30 minutes.
- Dan Owen remained conscious but passed away approximately three hours later despite medical efforts to save him.
"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."
Medical Information
Both suffered severe anaphylactic shock due to numerous wasp stings across their bodies. The exact cause of death has not been definitively established.
Location Context
Green Jungle Park is a well-known attraction near Luang Prabang, offering ziplining and other adventure activities to tourists visiting the Southeast Asian nation.
Summary: An American father and son died from severe anaphylactic shock after being stung over 100 times by wasps while ziplining in Laos, highlighting the risks of such outdoor activities in insect-prone areas.