Posted on 11/07/2025 6:03:54 PM PST by 11th_VA
An unexpected attack from swarms of venomous wasps killed two American tourists, a father and his son, during a zip-lining trip in Laos. The attack occurred on October 15 but was publicly reported earlier this week.
A source close to U.S. diplomats in Laos told The Times of London that the hornets overwhelmed Daniel and Cooper Owen as they descended from a tree at Green Jungle Park, an eco-adventure resort near the city of Luang Prabang. The pair, still conscious, was quickly transferred to a clinic and then to the provincial hospital for emergency attention. However, they died a few hours following their arrival at the hospital.
The park expressed condolences for the victims while noting that the attack “was an unforeseeable and extraordinary natural occurrence,” it told The New York Times. It added that officials have since reviewed its safety measures and “further enhanced aspects of our emergency response protocols, including the evacuation process for the zip-line course.”
Asian giant hornets are among the largest hornets in the world. Their stings can inject a deadly neurotoxin that can be fatal, and they are known to react aggressively to perceived threats, landing them the nickname “murder hornets.” They’re native to parts of Asia but have spread across the world in the past few years, including—for a short stint—the United States.
As the park’s statement states, attacks from these insects aren’t impossible but rare. Still, a bad run-in with the fiercely protective wasps can be extremely dangerous.
“Their whole bodies were covered in red spots. It was very, very painful. A lot of stings, more than 100, over the whole body,” Phanomsay Phakan, a doctor at the clinic where the Owens were first treated, told The Times. “I thought already that it’s a very dangerous situation because I had never seen it as bad as that.”
“The son was unconscious and passed away after half an hour, while the father was conscious and passed away about three hours later,” said Jorvue Yianouchongteng, the emergency room physician who attended to the pair, to The Associated Press. “We tried our best to save them but we couldn’t.”
Yianouchongteng added that both patients had been stung more than 100 times and suffered severe anaphylactic shock. However, they have yet to determine the exact cause of death.
Daniel Owen, 47, was originally from Idaho but had been working as the director of QSI International School in Vietnam. Cooper, 15, was a student at the school, which released a statement in memoriam of the victims.
“Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving in five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to education,” the statement read. “He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed. Our sincere condolences go out to the Owen family and all who knew and loved them.”
“vacation in Laos” 🫤🙄
>>the hornets overwhelmed Daniel and Cooper Owen as they descended from a tree at Green Jungle Park, an eco-adventure resort...
I’d say they got a bit more”eco-adventure” than they signed up for!
That has to be one of the worst ways to go when you’re fully conscious. Being attacked in what is already a dangerous place, on the side of a high mountain, and by those gigantic bugs.
Whoever runs that Zip-Lining attraction may want to find out what else is lurking in that area, before placing tourist in those spots. The Adult tourist could have looked into possible dangers via the internet.
Not exactly the first place one would think to visit. I suppose it might appeal to the adventure types. In this case the adventure turned lethal.
“vacation in Laos”
Was that the B-Side of The Dead Kennedy’s “Holiday In Cambodia”?
A Bear could get ya there, just like a gator ate the kid in Disney. No place is really safe.
Such a sad story. Father and son out on a fun adventure and that happens.
I have a couple of favorite hiking spots on the San Francisco Peninsula where signs are posted at one location on each trail “Caution: Bees / Yellowjackets.” I keep wondering “Why don’t they eradicate them instead of putting up a sign?” It’s utter insanity to run the risk of somebody dying on those trails because they don’t want to kill BUGS.
I think I saw that seen in a King Kong movie.
Audiences were said to leave and head for the loos since it was so nauseating.
We eradicated the Murder Hornets in the US - I think France has them now as well - another downside to globalization
A mauling by a bear would be a preferable way than murder hornets any day.
There's always something to worry about. If it isn't giant bugs trying to sting you to death, it's small bugs threatening the food supply: Commercial bee colony collapse threatens Washington apple, berry agriculture.
Nearly 60% of all honey bee hives were lost between June 2024 and March 2025.
That’s insane - kill them all
It’s not the breed. It’s the owner.
They put the signs up because of liability. There is no way for them to know where every nest is, some have nests in the ground. Neighbor pulled up a bush this fall to get rid of it and there was a huge nest in its root system.
They have 1/4 long stingers. Where they sting and inject, the tissue necroses and you get a “cratering ring effect.
I’m not getting my hopes up for Murder Hornets again until we see some measurable carnage and fear, not anecdotal tourist deaths.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.