Mardi worker killed by bee swarm while collecting honey at farm in Kemaman

CHUKAI, Oct 25 — A Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) worker lost his life after being attacked by a swarm of bees while gathering honey at the institute's farm in Ayer Putih near Kemaman on October 24. Kemaman police Supt Mohd Razi Rosli reported that the incident occurred at around 9.50am when Hafizul Mat, a 40-year-old general worker, was along with a colleague at MARDI's Kemaman branch on Kilometer 18 of Jalan Ayer Putih.

Despite a colleague's advice against collecting honey from a dry tree three meters tall, Hafizul proceeded, instructing his colleague to wait about 50 meters away before he climbed the tree. Upon ascending, Hafizul warned his colleague to flee as the bees swarmed him, climbed down, and jumped into a nearby pool to escape the stings.

The victim later complained of pain in his arms and legs, collapsed, and convulsed. Colleagues alerted others who called an ambulance, but it was too late as Hafizul died at Kemaman Hospital at 6.42pm.