A MAN was brutally stung 160 times when angry wasps invaded his home and followed him into the shower.
Andrew Powell, 57, explained how the sky “turned brown” with thousands of the insects as they carried out their terrifying attack.
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The festival organiser from Brecon said he hasn’t been able to sleep as he has been in agony since the ordeal on Sunday which left him needing hospital treatment.
The insects flew into his house after a local farmer’s combine harvester disturbed a nest in a field.
Andrew managed to get inside and into the shower but the wasps tailed him and stung him through his clothes.
All I could see was a white light and I thought ‘here we go’
Andrew Powell
Andrew said he was stung 15 times to the back of his head, but managed to avoid getting stung in his face as he was “running fast”.
He told the BBC how a friend who lives nearby, drove him straight to the the minor injuries unit at Brecon War Memorial Hospital.
“I was dropping in and out of consciousness,” he said, adding: “All I could see was a white light and I thought ‘here we go’.”
Andrew praised his nurses and said they were “amazing”.
He was given adrenaline, morphine and co-codamol for the pain and told the BBC :”If they hadn’t, then I’d be dead.”
After his initial treatment at Brecon Andrew was transferred to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil later on Sunday evening.
When the doctor came to see him he was shocked to learn it was 160 stings Andrew had suffered.
Andrew, who helps organise the Brecon Beacons Food Festival, said he is recovering at home.
He is struggling to sleep because of the pain and says the stings have turned purple
What to do if wasps swarm & how to treat stings
The best thing to do if wasps swarm is to run away as fast as you can until you reach shelter, according to Pest Expert.
This could be a building or vehicle but is just anywhere where you can get away from the critters.
The pest experts advise against jumping in water as the cunning creatures might wait for you to come out before launching another attack.
They say If you have more than one layer on, pull your top over your head to help protect your face.
If you do get stung by a wasp it is important you remove it as soon as possible.
The sting can be scraped away from the skin using the edge of a credit card, or if you don’t have one to hand, you can use your fingernails.
You should never use your fingers or tweezers as it can cause the venom to spread.
After removing the sting you should:
- Wash the affected area with soap and water
- Apply ice or a cold compress for up to 10 minutes to reduce the swelling
- Avoid scratching the area to reduce the risk of infection
- Not apply home remedies such as vinegar or bicarbonate of soda, as they’re unlikely to help.
Some people are allergic to wasp stings and they can cause them to go into anaphylactic shock, which requires urgent medical treatment.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
- Severe swelling
- Hives or itching
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- A sudden drop in blood pressure
Andrew has expressed concern about plans to reduce the operating hours of Brecon’s minor injuries unit as it can get very busy at unpredictable times.
He believes he wouldn’t be alive without the quick action taken by nurses at the unit and said he will fight to keep operating hours as they are.
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