Father and son killed after being attacked by swarm of murder hornets

A father and son have died in Laos after being attacked by a swarm of Asian hornet wasps.

Daniel Owen, 47, and his son Cooper, 15, had been enjoying a holiday at an adventure resort near the city of Luang Prabang in the Southeast Asian country when tragedy struck on 15 October.

The pair had spent the day zip-lining through tropical trees when they were attacked by the insects, which have been spotted across the UK countryside in recent years.

Daniel and Cooper were rushed to a nearby hospital in a serious condition. Both tourists, who were US nationals, are said to have been conscious upon arrival at Phakan Arocavet Clinic.

"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, recalled (via The Times).

Dan Owen had been holidaying with his teenage son when they were fatally attacked by Asian hornet wasps (Quality Schools International/Facebook)

"I thought already that it’s a very dangerous situation because I had never seen it as bad as that."

Tributes have since poured in for the pair, with Quality Schools International, a private school where Daniel was a director, writing: "We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dan Owen, Director of QSI International School of Haiphong, and his son Cooper, due to a tragic accident.

They continued: "Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving in five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to education.

"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."

"Green Jungle Park extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Daniel and Cooper Owen," a spokesperson for the park added.

"Following this incident, we have reviewed all existing procedures. This event is unprecedented in our experience and, to our understanding, in Luang Prabang as well. It was an unforeseeable and extraordinary natural occurrence."

The wasps are distinctive by their size and yellow legs (Getty Stock Images)

Can Asian hornet wasps kill a person?

An invasive species which threatens local bee populations, Asian hornets can also be deadly to humans.

However, death from an Asian hornet sting is rare, with fatalities being caused by either anaphylactic shock, which is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction, or mass attacks, which usually occur when a nest is disturbed.

Heathline states that mild symptoms from hornet stings usually consist of itching, bleeding, and pain near the affected area, while anaphylaxis can cause more severe reactions, such as nausea, chest tightness, and vomiting.

According to a report from The Times, the father and son showed no signs of anaphylactic shock and were transferred to Luang Prabang provincial hospital, where they passed away a few hours later.