Swarm Of Wasps Sting Great-grandfather To Death

Clive Southall, who was stung to death by a swarm of wasps whilst staying at a holiday park in Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool

Retired service engineer Clive Southall is stung hundreds of times on holiday in Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool

A great-grandfather was stung to death by a swarm of wasps after he accidentally disturbed a nest near his holiday home.

Clive Southall’s head was so consumed by the mass of attacking insects that his horrified relatives said they could “hardly see his face” as he rushed back to his caravan.

The 83-year-old ran towards his family for help before heading to the shower in an attempt to wash the wasps off.

But Mr Southall, from Brierley Hill, near Dudley, Worcs, collapsed shortly after and had to be airlifted to hospital, after being stung hundreds of times.

The retired service engineer was at his holiday home at the Baxter Mill Caravan Park in Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool when the accident happened on 11 August.

He died at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on the same day, as a result of an anaphylactic shock.

Baxter Mill Caravan Park, where Clive Southall, 83 was attacked by the swarm of wasps  Wales News Service

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During evidence given to an inquest at Telford Register Office, Mr Southall’s family described Clive’s death as a “tragic accident”.

According to his son Mark Southall, 51, Clive and his 11-year-old grand-daughter Ellie were clearing weeds along the Afon Rhiw river bank near his holiday home at around 11am.

Julie Hartridge, officer for Shropshire coroner Mr John Ellery, who read out family statements at the inquest said: “At some point during this work it seems Clive slipped and disturbed a wasp’s nest.

“The wasps quickly swarmed upon him and he returned to his caravan to put his head under the shower in a bid to get rid of them.”

His daughter Edwina Bruton, 58, who was in the mobile home, commented she could hardly see her father’s face because there were so many insects on him.

She said: “Once he had ridden his head of the wasps under the shower, he sat down and started to dry his hair, saying he had been stung a lot of times.

“Shortly after he suddenly collapsed on the floor.”

"In all my time working here nothing like this has ever happened before."

Jackie Morgan

The family immediately called 999 and paramedics performed CPR before airlifting him to hospital.

Jackie Morgan, 50, whose family have owned the Baxter Mill Caravan Park since the 1970’s said elderly Clive stumbled and fell on to the nest.

She added: “In all my time working here nothing like this has ever happened before.

“We had no idea there was a wasp’s nest there. His family are just devastated.

“Clive was a very likeable gentleman and he would do anything for anyone. He loved animals too. It’s just so tragic.”

Ms Morgan described Mr Southall’s funeral, which took place on Wednesday, as “incredibly moving”.

She said: “There’s a real sense of this accident being terribly bad luck.”

Clive is survived by his wife Marjorie, his son Mark and daughter Edwina, three grand-children and one great-grand-child.

Telford coroner John Ellery recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Posted by Jamal