No honey no money – angry bees kill “expert” in Thailand’s North East

An “expert” honey collector was stung to death by bees in Bueng Kan, northeastern Thailand on Sunday.

Police and medics were called to a rubber plantation in the downtown area where they found the lifeless body of 46 year old Jatupong Khongban lying near the remains of a fire beneath a tree, reports Daily News.

His face, head, arms and legs were all swollen and covered in the tell-tale marks of bee stings. Two of his friends survived but were also stung by the bees.

Police said that the three men had gone out on an expedition to collect honey by smoking out a large variety of bees known as “pheung luang” in Thai. They had come upon a large nest and the men, described as experts with much experience in smoking out bees, had set about their work.

As Jatupong shinned up the tree to dislodge the nest and his friends waited with their equipment below the angry bees attacked him.

They were collecting a variety of prized and valuable honey known as “fifth month honey.” Jatupong’s body was released to relatives for cremation.

Thai Visa / Daily News

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