**Tragic Zipline Adventure Ends in Hornet Attack**

A father and son tragically lost their lives after being attacked by a swarm of wild Asian hornets while ziplining in Laos. Daniel Owen, 47, and his 15-year-old son, Cooper, were stung more than a hundred times during the incident on October 15th.

The pair were descending from a tree when the hornets swarmed them. They were quickly taken to a local clinic, where medical staff reported that they appeared to still be breathing upon arrival. However, neither Daniel nor Cooper showed signs of anaphylactic shock, which can be a severe allergic reaction to insect stings.

Dr Phanomsay Phakan, who treated them at the Phakan Arocavet Clinic, described the severity of their condition. He stated, “Their whole bodies were covered in red spots. It was very, very painful. A lot of stings, more than one hundred, over the whole body. I thought already that it’s a very dangerous situation because I had never seen it as bad as that.”

After initial treatment, both were transferred to a local hospital, where they sadly died a few hours later. Daniel Owen was a director at a branch of Quality Schools International (QSI). Following the news of their deaths, QSI released a statement expressing their sorrow: “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. Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving in five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to education.”

Asian hornets, which can grow to about 2cm in length, are predominantly black and brown, featuring an orange face and tail with yellow legs. They primarily feed on other insects, including honey bees and butterflies. This incident highlights the potential dangers of outdoor activities in areas where such wildlife is present.

This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.