A 58-year-old hiker died on the way to Penang Hospital here after she was said to be stung by a swarm of hornets along a forested trail on the Bukit Gambir hill on the island.
The victim was apparently on a routine hike along the trail when she by chance got close to the swarm of hornets, which proceeded to attack her.
She fell unconscious after multiple stings.
Viral video clips show fellow hikers carrying her down along the slope of the trail after calling emergency services for help.
In one clip, a man is seen trying to revive her by administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as she lay motionless on the ground.
An ambulance from the hospital arrived within 30 minutes, and the medical team took over, taking her on a stretcher into the vehicle.
A medical assistant then performed CPR on her, but the woman could not be revived.
Northeast acting district police head V. Saravanan confirmed the death, saying that a post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow to ascertain the cause.
“We are informed that the victim may have gone into shock after she was stung,” he said.
Penang island is home to many hiking trails, especially along the Penang Hill range. – The Vibes, November 16, 2023
