Toddler stung to death by swarm of wasps as brave dad tried to save him

A two-year-old boy tragically lost his life after being attacked by a swarm of aggressive wasps while playing with friends in northeastern Thailand.

The toddler, Narathip, also known as Akhin, was cycling with other children near an old rice mill when they were suddenly set upon by the territorial insects in Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday. While the other kids managed to escape, Narathip was unable to make it too far due to his short legs and tumbled from his bike as the wasps relentlessly attacked him.

His playmates quickly sought help, leading his father to the horrific scene. The determined dad braved the stinging swarm to rescue his son, enduring numerous painful stings himself.

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Despite being rushed to Bua Yai Hospital, the toddler devastatingly succumbed to his injuries six hours later. Medical professionals stated that he suffered a severe allergic reaction, which led to a rapid heart rate, acute kidney failure, and ultimately "cardiac system failure".

The boy's father is currently in a critical condition following the ordeal, reports the Daily Star.

Following the tragedy, local officials coordinated with exterminators to incinerate the wasp nest, found hanging beneath a metal structure in the rice mill's yard.

Pitakpong Sirisak, a Provincial Council member, commented on the aftermath: "Since the incident, I've received more than 10 calls to destroy wasp nests and we've already coordinated with rescuers to remove four of them. I urge residents to carefully check their homes as well as nearby trees and electric poles for wasp nests.

"If you spot a newly made nest, destroy it right away. But if it's already fully developed, don't risk it and just report it to the authorities for safe removal."

Wasp stings can prove deadly, particularly for those who are allergic, with fatalities typically occurring due to anaphylactic shock — a severe, swift allergic response that can trigger airway swelling and cardiac arrest.

Even in non-allergic individuals, multiple stings from hostile species can result in toxic reactions and organ failure.

Previously, there was the harrowing case of two-year-old Beckham Reed, who was left battling for his life in hospital following a similar wasp assault. The toddler was playing with his cousins on an electric toy when he disturbed a nest of yellowjackets, which "swarmed him head to toe".

His parents Mariah and Peyton rushed him to hospital, where medics administered morphine and Benadryl before discharging him home. Less than 24 hours later, Beckham's skin began turning yellow, forcing his frantic parents to race back to the hospital.

Medical staff at Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick swiftly recognised that Beckham was experiencing multi-organ failure. He was immediately transferred to the ICU at Memorial Savannah.

Upon arrival at intensive care, Beckham required dialysis, ventilator assistance and crucial IV medications to allow his body to recover and eliminate the toxins. "Due to his age and size and the amount of stings he had, his little body was unable to handle the amount of toxins in his body," Tiffany Hewatt penned on a GoFundMe page.

It's believed that Beckham was released from hospital in mid-July following a challenging recovery period.