BANGKOK — An American father and his teenage son died last month after being attacked by a swarm of wasps while ziplining in Laos. The incident occurred on October 15 at Green Jungle Park, located near Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dan Owen, who was the director of an international school in Vietnam, and his son Cooper were descending from a tree when they were stung multiple times. They were initially taken to a local clinic before being transferred to Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital in critical condition, according to Jorvue Yianouchongteng, the emergency room physician who treated them.

“The son was unconscious and passed away after half an hour, while the father was conscious and passed away about three hours later,” Yianouchongteng said. “We tried our best to save them but we couldn’t.” Both father and son suffered severe anaphylactic shock from being stung more than 100 times, although the exact cause of death has not yet been determined.

The Asian giant hornet, often referred to as the “murder hornet,” is known for its aggressive behavior and is found in Laos, along with several other wasp species. It remains unclear which type of wasp was responsible for the attack.

The local clinic where Owen and his son were first treated declined to comment on the incident. Green Jungle Park did not respond to inquiries, and the Laos Foreign Ministry also did not provide any comments.

The U.S. State Department confirmed the deaths of two American citizens in Luang Prabang but refrained from further comments to respect the family's privacy.

In a Facebook post, Quality Schools International, where Owen worked for 18 years, expressed their condolences. The organization praised him for “touching countless lives” and noted that he had served as the director of the QSI International School of Haiphong in Vietnam at the time of his death. “He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed,” the school stated. “Our sincere condolences go out to the Owen family and all who knew and loved them.”