Bee Victim Thought She Was Going to Die

One of two women in their 70s who were attacked by a swarm of bees at a Laguna Woods golf course was convinced she was about to die, her attorney said today.

The victim, identified in a broadcast report as Bockhie Shim, 72, was briefly hospitalized after the attack, which occurred about 11 a.m. Tuesday at the golf course at 24112 Moulton Parkway, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi.

A maintenance man on a lawn mower apparently disturbed a hive, prompting the swarm of bees to descend on Shim, who was stung about 15 times, Concialdi said.

Shim’s 74-year-old friend rushed to help her, swatting the bees away, but then the swarm attacked her, stinging her about 50 times, Concialdi said.

Shim’s lawyer, Eric Dubin, said she was attacked by almost 200 bees.

“The pain and horror is almost indescribable,” Dubin said.

Dubin said his client was lucky to be alive, adding “this attack should never have occurred”.

Firefighters advise running away from a swarm of bees instead of attempting to swat them away, Concialdi said.

“You can outrun bees,” he said. “Just get away from them.”

Paramedics used credit cards to help take the stingers out, Concialdi said.

“Just push (the credit card) into the skin and scrape it and it pulls the stinger right out,” Concialdi said.

The women had just played the 11th hole and were on their way to the 12th when the bees attacked.

-City News Service