A Texas man was mowing his property when a swarm of bees attacked. He died soon after.
A Texas man has died after being attacked by a swarm of bees.
Steven William Daniel of Cisco died on April 27 in Eastland, Texas, about 130 miles southwest of Dallas, according to an incident report obtained by USA TODAY on Monday.
Eastland Police Department officers responding to a call about a crashed vehicle found Daniel swarmed by the bees, the agency said in a news release. Officers took Daniel out of his truck and put him in a police car until an ambulance could arrive and take him to a hospital. During the ambulance ride, Daniel stopped breathing and became unresponsive, the department said.
Although Daniel, 66, was not allergic to bees, he died later that evening of circulator collapse from the bee stings, according to the incident report. Circulatory collapse, or circulatory shock, occurs when the body's circulation system is compromised, resulting in inadequate blood flow to the body's vital organs.
Cyd Daniel, Daniel's wife, told Texas television station KTAB/KRBC that her husband had been mowing a property they owned in Eastland when he encountered the bees. Over the seven years the couple owned the property, he had never had an issue with bees, Cyd said.
Bee swarm: Bees attack and kill 3 horses in Texas: 'They didn't give up'
Cyd described her late husband to KTAB/KRBC as funny and quiet, someone who believe in safety first.
"I believe this happened for a reason, and I think it's to warn the rest of us," Cyd told the local television station. "And if it helps one person or one kid or people at a birthday party, then he helped. He made a difference."
Cyd did not immediately respond when contacted by USA TODAY on May 19.
Another fatal bee attack in region happened less than two weeks after Daniel's death.
On May 9, a swarm of what are believed to be Africanized honey bees, also known as killer bees, attacked and killed three horses in Comanche, Texas, just about 50 miles southeast of Eastland.
That attack involved millions of bees that also attacked the owner of the horses.
"They attacked me as soon as I got outside," Baillie Hillman told USA TODAY. "They were in my ears, my glasses, my hair." She escaped and got back inside.
It's unclear what kind of bees attacked Daniel.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 72 people died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021.
Spring is a busy time for bees. They're emerging to forage, reproduce and sometimes, look for a new home, Texas Beeworks founder Erika Thompson told USA TODAY. If you encounter bees this spring, the best thing to do is stay calm. Avoid sudden movements, swatting and loud noises because bees are sensitive to vibrations, Thompson said.
Thompson said if you are stung by a bee, remove the stinger as soon as possible because it can continue to release venom even after the sting.
Regularly inspect your property for gaps, cracks or open vents − areas that bees can squeeze into, Thompson said. Seal any unwanted openings with fine mesh, caulk or weather stripping. If you find a hive in an unwanted area on your property, contact a local beekeeper or bee removal specialist for ethical relocation. Don't try to handle the hive on your own.
Maintenance: Here's how to get rid of bees around your home
Contributing: Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas man mowing grass dies after being attacked by swarm of bees
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Diddy trial updates: Prosecutors to call final witnesses in Sean Combs' sex-crimes case
This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing. Attorneys for Sean "Diddy" Combs are gearing up to take the lead in his criminal trial as prosecutors wind down their initial round of arguments. The embattled hip-hop mogul returned to Manhattan court on June 23 for the latest installment in his sweeping federal sex-crimes case. U.S. attorneys hope to wrap testimony by end of day, while Combs' lawyers expect to rest by end of day June 24 or 25. Closing arguments are tentatively set to commence next Thursday, June 26. Jurors last heard from Combs' former assistant Brendan Paul, who took the stand June 20. The 26-year-old alleged "drug mule" testified about his 2024 arrest as well as his demanding job, which consisted of working long hours and procuring ketamine and ecstasy for Combs' "personal use." He also denied witnessing criminal activity at the mogul's "king nights," another name for Combs' "freak off" sex parties. Homeland Security agent Joseph Cerciello also testified, detailing flight logs, texts, financial records and hotel reports tied to Combs that painted the Grammy-winning rapper's lavish lifestyle. Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges. What is Diddy charged with? Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling case that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry. He was arrested in September 2024 and later charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The rapper has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him. Discover WITNESS: Access our exclusive collection of true crime stories, podcasts, videos and more What is a RICO? Racketeering meaning Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity. Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors allege they have on video. How to stream the Diddy trial The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings. USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Sign up for our newsletter for more updates. Contributing: USA TODAY staff If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (4673) and and en Español If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Miley Cyrus says this type of therapy saved her life. What is EMDR?
Miley Cyrus is opening up about how she overcame stage fright with a cutting-edge therapy technique that she says saved her life. In an interview with the New York Times last month, Cyrus shared that eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, has been pivotal for her healing and mental health. The therapy was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the 1980s to help people alleviate distress around painful memories. The therapy has been used by clinicians for decades but has become an increasingly popular and sought-after treatment to deal with traumatic or adverse life experiences. "Love it. Saved my life," Cyrus said of EDMR. "It's like watching a movie in your mind. ... I came out of it, and I've never had stage fright again. Ever. I don't have stage fright anymore." Cyrus isn't the only celebrity who's been open about undergoing EMDR. In 2021, Prince Harry shared in his Apple TV+ docuseries on mental health with Oprah Winfrey that he uses EMDR to address the discomfort he feels when he flies into London, which he said reminds him of the loss of his mother. "It's almost a wave that can't be stopped because people are hearing their friends talk about it, they're seeing the changes in their family members," Wendy Byrd, a professional counselor and president of the board of directors at the EMDR International Association, previously told USA TODAY. "When I was trained in 2008, I would have to go in and explain what EMDR was and tell my clients why I thought it was such a good therapy. ... Now, I would say almost everyone that comes into my door is asking me for EMDR." What is EMDR? EMDR engages what's called the adaptive information processing system to bring up past traumatic experiences in a safe space, so your brain can essentially reprocess them. "EMDR allows the brain to heal from experiences that were traumatic or adverse or overwhelming by allowing the brain to process that information and to store it in a way where the brain now knows, 'I'm in a different circumstance, that's not happening to me anymore,'" Byrd said. Our brains and bodies have a built-in mechanism for processing information. But sometimes, especially when we experience a trauma, that mechanism becomes overwhelmed. When new information comes in that feels similar to that adverse experience, the brain stores it in the same place as the original trauma, Byrd said. This can make things in your everyday life that are not threatening feel dangerous. "It's the blue car driving down the road, or it's the dog barking, or your spouse's face in that one contorted way, and all of a sudden, you're upset, you're triggered and overwhelmed," she said. How does a clinician conduct EMDR? Byrd said in an EMDR session a clinician will ask questions to bring up the components of a memory, including sensory information – such as sight, sound and smell. A clinician will ask how your body felt during the experience, how you felt during the experience – the emotional information that connects to that memory. Eventually, the clinician will add in eye movements or tapping. This is called bilateral stimulation. Studies show that eye movements facilitate information processing and calm down a person's physiology. "It will make something that feels upsetting, less upsetting. It helps the brain make images that are very vivid, less vivid," Byrd said. "And part of that is because of what we call dual attention, meaning I'm present in the room with the therapist, or over Zoom, nowadays, and I'm thinking about that experience and it's all the ingredients that the brain needs to engage that adaptive information processing mechanism." More: Prince Harry said he is triggered flying into London and uses EMDR to cope. What is it? Part of the reprocessing occurs by the clinician introducing positive things into the recall. A therapist will ask, "What do you want to think now about that experience?" "It brings in the current information. Maybe the positive is that it's over, or maybe it's that you learned from it or that now you now you're worthy," she said. Byrd said EMDR works on various types of trauma, and most people are good candidates for the treatment. EMDR can be effective whether someone is seeking to address a single traumatic event, such as a car crash, or a chronic experience, such as bullying. What is the hope for a patient after they complete EMDR? Patients work with their clinicians to identify future outcomes they desire – how they want to think, feel and behave in the world. For Byrd's part, she said looking to build resilience in clients. "I want their triggers to be very difficult to find," she said. What health & wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping It Together newsletter Byrd encourages anyone with a painful memory to consider EMDR. "People feel like sometimes what happened to them isn't big enough. They should just be able to get over it. ... And that just breaks my heart because I know that they can feel better and that they do deserve to feel better," she said. "I just wish that people knew that they could come in, we could figure out some of the things that are happening that are causing them pain, and that it would be not that long of a journey before they could get some relief."
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Suspect fatally shot by a security guard after Michigan church shooting, authorities say
DETROIT — One person was killed and another was injured in a shooting at a suburban Detroit church on June 22, authorities said. The City of Wayne Police Department said in a Facebook post that a shooting took place at CrossPointe Community Church at about 11 a.m. on June 22 and that responding officers determined that a security guard for the church shot and killed the suspect. "One victim was shot in the leg. Please avoid the area. Officers are still actively investigating," the post added. The police department described the suspect as a "31-year-old white male" in an email to USA TODAY. Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ reported that the suspect was on his way to the church when another person tried to stop him with their truck. When he opened fire on the truck, the security guard intervened, according to the station. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a post on X that the bureau has sent leadership and support teams to Wayne. US attack on Iran fallout: US warns of 'heightened threat environment' after strikes on Iran nukes Eyewitness: 'I was confused what was going on' Brendan Henzel, 21, said he was attending services at the church when the shooting occurred. He said the shooter shot the security guard in the knee before the guard killed him, and the guard was rushed to the hospital. "I was confused what was going on," Henzel said to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, while he stood near the church in the hours after the shooting took place. "I heard 'Boom, boom, pow' and next thing I knew I was running." A livestream of the church service, which appears to have been taken down from the church's website but was captured by news outlets, shows parishioners, many of them children, sitting in the pews when the reported shooting takes place. Attendees are then seen ducking under their chairs or running away. A woman at one point yells: "Everybody to the back. Please, everybody, come to the back." The church was cordoned off with police tape Sunday afternoon, as police from various agencies investigated. (This story was updated to add new information.)
