A mother and her 2-year-old son were airlifted to a hospital after thousands of bees suddenly descended on them during a walk, leaving both covered in more than 150 painful stings.
Rosie Kirkness and her toddler, Jamie, were exploring the scenic Wester Ross region of Scotland last July when their peaceful outing became a terrifying fight for survival, according to The Sunday Times.
Rosie reportedly first noticed a bee tangled in her hair. Within moments, her arm was covered — and then the swarm seemed to be everywhere.
Overwhelmed by the relentless attack and the sheer number of stings, the mother collapsed.
Her young son was also engulfed by the insects.
A witness later described seeing Jamie “lying at the side of the road covered head to toe in bees,” an image he said he would never forget.
Despite her injuries, Rosie managed to reach a nearby home, where a man rushed the mother and child inside. They attempted to wash the bees away in his shower while emergency crews raced to the scene.
The situation became even more horrifying when Jamie reportedly began vomiting bees.
Rosie and Jamie were eventually airlifted to a hospital, where doctors treated them for kidney complications, venom-induced muscle spasms, severe swelling and cellulitis, according to reports cited by The Sunday Times.
Both mother and son survived, but the emotional wounds have not healed.
They have since reportedly been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the ordeal.
Rosie’s mother, Susan Kirkness, said the attack was like “something out of a horror film.”
Now, roughly a year after the incident, Susan is fighting for tougher safety rules surrounding beehives near public areas.
She launched a petition in the Scottish Parliament calling for beehives to be banned from public spaces until new protections are introduced.
“There is currently no clear Scottish legislation regulating where beehives can be placed in relation to public spaces, nor any requirement for safety signage when beekeepers are working on hives,” Susan wrote in the petition, which was created July 21.
“Other activities with far lower risk require visible warnings, yet beekeeping does not.”
Susan alleged that a beekeeper had been working with nearby hives without putting up warning signs or barriers before her daughter and grandson were attacked.
“When the bees were disturbed, they became defensive and swarmed,” she wrote, adding that Rosie and Jamie “continue to experience ongoing trauma and anxiety.”
Susan also claimed the beekeeper later admitted hearing Rosie’s cries for help but did not intervene.
The petition seeks clearer rules on where beehives can be located, mandatory warning signs and stronger safeguards designed to prevent another family from enduring the same terrifying ordeal.
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