Arizona hiker airlifted after 100+ bee stings leave him critical

Hiking always seems like a relatively low-risk way of connecting with nature and unplugging from the dreaded doomscroll of whatever war, personal drama, or political scandal is filling our algorithms. But every so often, you’re reminded that you can’t go far enough for fate not to find you. One Arizona man found himself on the wrong side of a mountain trail when he was suddenly swarmed by over 100 bees.

It was about 10 a.m. on Saturday, Apr. 4. Despite the overwhelming nature of the attack, the hiker still had the wherewithal to contact emergency responders in the region. He told them he was at Lookout Mountain Preserve in north Phoenix, had suffered over 100 bee stings, and was “unable to continue his descent.”

The local fire department later revealed that rescue teams from Phoenix and Glendale responded immediately using a Firebird 10 helicopter. They were able to locate the hiker and, after administering a quick first-aid check, coordinated a hoist operation to extract him from the mountain and transport him to a nearby hospital.

This isn’t the first time someone has had a bad experience in what should be a run-of-the-mill hiking situation. An Australian hiker’s survival story recently drew attention after he fell 200 feet, could barely move, and had to rely on a Bluetooth tracker and a last-ditch call to his mother. Luckily that ended up being enough to save his life.

But sometimes, hikers aren’t found until months later. So, by comparison, this Arizona hiker can count himself fortunate. On Facebook, the Phoenix Fire Department shared a tip: “Avoid disturbing hives, skip scented products when outdoors, wear light-colored clothing, and if you encounter a swarm, run away quickly and protect your head and face.”

In the comments under the rescue post, users offered all kinds of advice for staying safe. One wrote, “You can carry a cheap mosquito net designed to cover the head, but that’s limited protection. There are more draconian methods, like a butane flame, but most hikers would never expect to carry something like that.” Another added, “The bees are insanely active right now because of the palo verde blossoms. They make me very nervous.”

It’s actually not uncommon for hikers to be attacked by bees. As even the best beekeepers would attest, you can often predict what bees might do next, but it’s almost impossible to control them. Arizona, in particular, has dealt with Africanized bees since the 1990s, and they’re known for having a low tolerance for disturbances.

Bees are committed to protecting their queen at any cost. If you ever find yourself in the middle of a swarm, keep your mouth shut and run as far away as possible as quickly as you can.

The increasingly unpredictable nature of the climate means experts can’t guarantee you won’t encounter bees even during winter in warmer states like Arizona. So at the end of the day, the best you can do is stay alert, stay prepared, and hope you don’t end up in their path.