A 40-year-old staff member of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) died after being stung by a swarm of bees at the Mardi Kemaman Station along Jalan Air Putih in Saturday.
The victim, Hafizul Mat Nor, was collecting honey from a hive in a tree on the workplace premises when the incident occurred at around 9.50am.
He died about nine hours later while receiving treatment at the emergency department of Kemaman Hospital.
Kemaman district police chief Superintendent Mohd Razi Rosli said Hafizul had climbed a tree about three metres tall to collect the honey when the bees suddenly attacked him.
He said Hafizul panicked and quickly climbed down, urging a 44-year-old colleague who had accompanied him to escape.
Both men then jumped into a pool of water in an attempt to avoid further stings.
However, after getting out of the water, Hafizul complained of pain in his legs and hands before suffering body spasms and losing consciousness, Mohd Razi said.
Hafizul was rushed to Kemaman Hospital by ambulance but could not be saved.
