For several hours Tuesday afternoon, neighbors in a North Richland Hills neighborhood were asked to stay in their homes after a swarm of bees attacked a couple doing lawn work. Allie Spillyards has more from the woman who called police for help and those called in to manage the scene.
Two people were transported to a local hospital after reports of a bee swarm attack in North Richland Hills Tuesday.
North Richland Hills Police and Fire responded to the 8000 block of Cross Drive around 12:09 p.m. after receiving reports of two people, a man and a woman, who were being swarmed by bees, according to police.
“I saw some bees, a lot of bees low to the ground, and then I looked down and I saw an elderly man on the floor on his side. His face had blood all over it," said a neighbor who didn't want to be identified.
She said she watched from her car as the man's wife and a neighbor both tried to help but were forced back inside.
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She called 911 and soon said police and firefighters were fighting off bees to save him.
"You could just see that he was not in good shape. He was in despair. His hand kept moving, and then it wouldn’t move again," she said.
With the help of local beekeepers, the NRH Fire Department transported the man and woman to a local hospital. The man is listed in critical condition, according to police.
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Police said the beekeepers worked to contain multiple hives and wasp nests while residents were asked to avoid the area.
“We had to cut the tree open in order to get the bees out," said Eric Etheredge.
Etheredge owns Sweet Mon Cheri. He and his team spent hours vacuuming out the bees and transporting them to boxes.
"It's probably about three to four feet high with about five to seven honeycomb frames," he said.
Etheredge said he the bees were typical honey bees, not the more aggressive Africanized bees.
He said they likely went on the offensive to protect their hive as the homeowner did yard work nearby.
"We just want him to be OK. Praying for his quick recovery," said the man's neighbor.
