A TRACTOR driver known as ‘Benji’, of Bounty Hall village, Essequibo Coast, was ploughing a field near a clump of bushes at Cozier on Wednesday when he was attacked by a large swarm of African bees and had to dive into a canal to escape their fury.Reports are that the combined noise of the tractor and a front-end loader in separate action had disturbed the bees, and they swooped down on Benji, inflicting stings to his face, head and hands. Benji said he stopped and abandoned the tractor, and sought refuge in a canal with the bees in hot pursuit after him.
Benji said he had to plunge into the canal to take cover under the water from the angry bees, but as he surfaced to get oxygen, he saw the creatures in their thousands hovering just over the surface of the water. He said he surfaced several times to get oxygen before the bees flew back to their hive in the bush; and when it was eventually all quiet, he came out of the canal and hurried home.
Nevertheless, Benji had to seek medical attention for the many stings he received from the dangerous African bees.
Several farmers who were in Cozier at the time of the attack said they went across to the area to offer assistance to Benji, but he had already left for home. They said African bees are always attacking farmers in the dry season at Cozier.
By Rajendra Prabhulall