A man has died after he was stung over a thousand times at Usery Mountain Park in Mesa.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said Alex Bestler, a man in his early 20s, was hiking with a friend on Thursday morning when a large swarm of bees descended on them.
Bestler’s friend was able to seek shelter but when another hiker went to check on the victim, he was on the ground covered in bees.
The hiker was not able to approach Bestler because of the aggressiveness of the bees.
According to MCSO, park employees arrived and attempted to help Bestler but were pushed back by the bees.
Rural Metro firefighters were able to load the victim into an SUV and removed him from the scene, still covered in bees and a swarm pursing.
Bestler was transported to the hospital and was pronounced dead. He was visiting the Valley from Louisiana.
