A bricklayer says he was stung around 40 times by a swarm of bees after he disturbed a nest hidden in an old tree stump.
Paul Durso, from Gillingham, had been working in a front garden in Walderslade removing bushes and preparing the ground for a new wall when he accidentally unearthed the nest.
At first, the wasps seemed confused, but within moments, they reacted and began to swarm.
“I didn’t notice anything beforehand, maybe the odd one buzzing around, but then they just swarmed out,” the 33-year-old said.
“I reckon about 250 wasps came at me.
“They went frenzied. Two must’ve got trapped under my arm and just panicked.
“I got stung around 20 times in one spot. It bled and got infected, probably because I scratched it with dirty nails.”
Unlike bees, wasps can sting repeatedly without dying.
Pest control experts say they behave like one organism when their nest is threatened, releasing a chemical signal that triggers a coordinated attack.
Those guarding the colony are the first to respond, often targeting scent and body heat.
Paul, who had a similar experience years ago while running in the woods, says he’s since learned ground-level nests are especially dangerous.
“If a little kid had done what I did, I don’t think they’d have got away,” he added.
“That nest was ground-level, and the stump was so old and dry a three-year-old could’ve knocked it over.”
If a little kid had done what I did, I don’t think they’d have got away
Despite the ordeal, which happened on Tuesday (July 8) he didn’t go to hospital, instead taking leftover antibiotics and antihistamines at home.
“I’m tough,” he joked. “Tougher than a bear.”
But he says it could have been a different outcome if a child or young person had encountered the nest and wants to warn others of the dangers.
“I’m not trying to make a fuss. I just want people to be careful,” he added.
“Check your gardens. Look out for old wood, dead stumps, anything a wasp might use.”
He added: “Wasps are just doing what they do. I’m not going to kill them. I left the nest alone and let them move on.
“It’s nature – and we should respect it.”
