Bee attack leaves North Richland Hills elderly man in ICU

The Brief

• • An elderly couple in North Richland Hills was attacked by a swarm of bees Tuesday afternoon.
  • 74-year-old Patricia Burns was released from the hospital the same day after being stung down both her arms and her face.
  • 72-year-old Lonnie Burns, who is allergic to bees, is in the ICU after he was stung all over his body, face and neck.
  • Beekeepers collected about 90% of the bees. They plan to capture the last 10% overnight.

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas - An elderly couple was rushed to the hospital after being attacked by a swarm of bees in North Richland Hills.

The North Richland Hills Fire Department was called to a home on Cross Drive Tuesday afternoon. A woman called 911 saying that her elderly neighbors were being attacked by bees.

74-year-old Patricia Burns is back home from the hospital with bee stings down both of her arms and her face.

Her 72-year-old-husband, Lonnie Burns, remains in the ICU after being swarmed by bees outside their home.

Patricia says her husband went out to mow the lawn around lunchtime. She then heard Lonnie yelling and tried to help as the bees were attacking her, too. 

"I just ignored them and tried to swat them," she recalled. "Tied to help him up, but it was impossible because he was so weak."

Lonnie, who is allergic to bees, was stung all over his body, including his face and neck. 

"They bruised his face," his wife said. "I don’t know. He might have tried to get up and fell backwards a few times."

While Patricia and Lonnie were rushed to the hospital, beekeepers arrived to tackle the hive inside the couple’s hollow tree trunk. 

Neighbors watched for close to six hours. 

Beekeepers believe they got the queen bee. 

"Our goal is to catch her," explained Jess Lawson with Lawson Honey Farm. "Because if we catch her, the rest of the colony will come to us." 

Meanwhile, Patricia had people stop by Tuesday evening to make sure she and her husband are recovering.

"All the neighbors around here were helping," she said. "And I want to thank everybody because that is what life is about."

About 90% of the bees were collected Tuesday. The last 10% should be contained overnight.