Killer bees attack class trip in O.W.

It was a scene straight out of a grade B Hollywood horror flic. But what occurred in Orange Walk on Wednesday morning was no movie. For dozens of students from St. Joseph Primary in Belize City, it was the field trip from hell. Jacqueline Woods reports.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

As part of their educational studies, the children went to visit the ancient Maya site of Cuello near Orange Walk Town. But two minutes after the children reached the hilltop situated just behind Cuello’s Distillery, they were surrounded by a large swarm of killer bees.

Clayton Burks, Student, St. Joseph Primary

“Suddenly I heard people crying, “bees, bees.” And when I look there were crowds of bees right behind us. I didn’t know how much there were, there were probably more than a hundred. And then suddenly bees were all around. I ran on the opposite side of the hill were the bees were and then they started stinging me.”

Anthony Smith, Student, St. Joseph Primary

“I was running, running, running and then some bees were around my head and I try to brush them off, but they keep on.”

Celenie Rhaburn, Teacher, St. Joseph Primary

“When I look closer we say that he was covered with bees.”

Pearline Reneau, Student, St. Joseph School

“I saw people running down the hill and I just think they were playing and a boy say, “bee, bee.”

Jesus Miralda, Student, St. Joseph Primary

“I was very frightened. I mi feel sorry for all the people who got sting.”

Ann Martinez, Teacher, St. Joseph Primary

“It was chaotic. It was fortunate for us that the bus was nearby that we could have run into the bus for refuge.”

But not all of the students and teachers were lucky. Nine-year-old Lindberg Hyde was stung by hundreds of the killer bees all over his face, stomach, and back. Hyde says after trying to fight off the bees, he was overcome by the stings and collapsed on the ground.

Lindberg Hyde, Victim of Bee Attack

“Like one mi gone inna my hat and when I throw off mi hat from off my head then I knock off the bee, then more start to attack me. Everybody mi di run away, but them right after I finish knock off the bee then more start to attack me.”

That is when Hyde says his homeroom teacher, Bernadine Emmanuel, told him to come by her. But it did not take long before bees started stinging his teacher.

Lindberg Hyde

“I mi did fly up my hand, and then my teacher tell me, “come Lindberg come.” Then I gone, and she start to get attack. Then she tell me, calm down and I calm down. Then one gone inna my shirt and I tek off my shirt then I start to knock up my back then dah right deh my shirt fly out ah my hand and then dah right deh they started to attack me.”

Emmanuel did her best to cover him but both student and teacher were unable to move and tried to keep still as they huddled together. But they were soon completely covered by thousands of the bees. Jose Mai, a parent who had accompanied his daughter on the field trip, saw the child and adult in trouble and without thinking about his own safety grabbed a bottle of drinking water from his knapsack and ran to them.

Jose Mai, Parent

“They were basically on the ground and they weren’t moving anymore, especially the little boy because he had his shirt off. I understand he took it off to help himself to kinda brush off. He’s young, and that’s a mistake, so he was exposing himself more. He was really helpless and he was saying, “help me, help me.”

Mai quickly picked up Hyde and started to run away with teacher Emmanuel. But Mai and the boy did not manage to get far. Both parent and child dropped to the ground.

Jose Mai

“All you hear is a buzz. You can’t really see well because these things are over your face, in front of your eyes. Actually, when I was shouting I swallowed one bee.”

“I would brush his head and then brush mine and alternate that way. It was difficult because there was nothing I can do. You run and the bees follow you, you stayed still and they stayed there with you.”

Mai says he screamed at the group by the bus to throw water at them. He says because he did not want to put the other school children in danger he ran away from the vehicle and that’s when he came upon some empty sacks, which he used to cover their heads.

Jose Mai

“So I held Lindberg’s hand again and then I ran with him toward the bus. And that’s when we entered the bus and I think that is what really stopped it because we couldn’t do anything. Not really blinded, but you’re not clear in sight or in thought; it’s just overpowering.”

They were rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital, and it is there Mai says he realized just how lucky they were to survive the vicious attack.

Jose Mai

“I was in a lot of pain. They kept telling me that the pain will go when we take out the little ticks, the little points that they leave in you. So I had to remain still, but it was very difficult. So afterwards I asked how much did they get and they said we stopped counting at a hundred from my head and I know we took out a lot on the way to the hospital from Cuello. A couple parents helped me and the standard three teacher, Miss Rhaburn, she helped pluck out a lot from my two palms.”

Jacqueline Woods

“How are you feeling right now?”

Lindberg Hyde

“Okay, but just because I am feeling problems in my neck.”

Principal Glorycela Torres says they were never told about the potential presence of the Africanised bees at the site and believes there should be signs posted to warn visitors.

Glorycela Torres, Principal. St. Joseph Primary School

“Because if we knew, we would know exactly what to do. So I strongly believe that a sign should be posted there, especially with the tourism rising up I think a sign should be put there for the benefit of every visitor that goes to that place.”

The Hyde family is praying that their loved one will be able to return home soon. Lindberg, who is hospitalised at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, has been receiving many visits. But there is one message his classmates have sent him, so Lindberg if you are watching here goes…

Students

“Lindberg, we wish you get well soon. Please get well.”

Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.

Of the one hundred and sixty-one students who went on the trip a total of forty-four were stung by the bees. Teacher Emmanuel remains home on medication. When News 5 contacted Cuello’s Distillery, we were informed by the supervisor, Imeldo Gonzales, that he was shocked about the incident because in the year and a half that he has been working at the site, there have been no reported incidents of bee attacks. However, News 5 understands that bee attacks have occurred in the past. Gonzales says he will be talking to management to see whether or not warning signs could be posted in the area. In the meantime, he says he will be telling people to be careful like he did today after a group of tourists arrived at the site. Meanwhile the Department of Agriculture in Orange Walk did send out a team to the area following the incident to spray and try and eradicate the bees.