An 83-year-old woman with advanced Alzheimer’s disease died after she was allegedly left outside a South Carolina nursing facility and attacked by fire ants that stung her more than 1,000 times, according to a shocking wrongful-death lawsuit filed by her family.

Shelba Catterton was reportedly found covered in ants outside Harmony at West Ashley in Charleston after wandering through a door that had allegedly been propped open by an employee.

By the time staff found her, Catterton had suffered bites and stings across nearly her entire body — including her face, eyes, scalp, chest, back, arms, hands, legs and feet, the lawsuit alleges.

“A bunch of ants were on her,” a staff member told a 911 dispatcher after Catterton was discovered.

“She has bumps all over her back, all over her face; it’s pretty bad,” the employee said. “They really did eat up on her.”

Family Says She Was Left Alone and Helpless

According to the lawsuit, Catterton was 83, nonverbal and suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s when she walked through an unsecured door leading to the facility’s courtyard on the evening of July 23.

Her family claims she went outside unnoticed and was then unable to get back inside.

“She was then locked out, alone, in the dark,” the lawsuit alleges.

Several hours later, staff allegedly found her lying in what the complaint described as a fire ant bed.

Catterton was unable to call for help or brush the insects away, her family claims.

“Fire ants swarmed Shelba’s body,” the lawsuit states.

The family alleges she was bitten and stung upward of 1,000 times before anyone discovered her.

Daughter Says She Was ‘Horrified’

Catterton’s daughter, Jan Buice, said seeing her mother after the attack was devastating.

“I was horrified,” Buice told NBC affiliate WCBD. “I just can’t tell you how horrified I was. Nobody should ever go through something like that.”

Another daughter, Sherri Lero, described watching her mother’s health rapidly deteriorate.

“Horrendous is what it’s been,” she said. “To watch your mom go from a walking individual to being in a bed, grasping for air.”

The lawsuit further claims the facility did not contact authorities about what happened until roughly 36 hours later — and only after Catterton’s daughter arrived for a scheduled visit and demanded that her mother be taken to the hospital.

Doctors Reportedly Found ‘Innumerable’ Ant Bites

Hospital records cited in the lawsuit allegedly showed Catterton arrived suffering from hypothermia and required more than two hours of active warming before being admitted to intensive care.

Doctors also documented “innumerable pustules due to known ant bites,” according to the complaint.

The lawsuit claims her physicians linked the ant attack to serious, life-threatening medical complications.

Catterton died on Aug. 7, about two weeks after the incident.

Attorney Nate Hughey, who represents the family, told WCBD it was the worst elder abuse case he had ever encountered.

Family Files Wrongful-Death Lawsuit

Catterton’s relatives are now suing Harmony at West Ashley, accusing the facility of negligence, wrongful death and violations of state regulations governing Alzheimer’s care.

The lawsuit argues that staff knew Catterton was at risk of wandering because of her dementia and required assistance with daily activities.

“A person with Shelba’s condition is at known risk of wandering and of leaving a facility without knowing where she is going or the danger she is in,” the complaint states.

“That risk is the reason secured memory care units exist.”

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Catterton’s death.

Harmony issued a statement expressing condolences to the family but said it could not discuss the allegations because of the pending litigation.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Mrs. Catterton’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the company said.

“As a family-owned and operated senior living company, we are committed to providing each resident with the same care, compassion, and respect we would extend to our own family.”

The company added that it was “not in a position to comment on the details of the case” while the lawsuit remains active.