Father and Son Die After Killer Hornet Attack in Laos
An American man and his teenage son died after being attacked by deadly hornets while on holiday in Laos.
Incident Details
Mr. Daniel Owen, 47, and his son Cooper, 15, were zip-lining in Green Jungle Park, an eco-adventure resort near Luang Prabang along the Mekong River, on October 15. They were attacked by a swarm of Asian giant hornets, an invasive predatory insect known as “murder hornets,” and were stung more than a hundred times.
Aftermath
Mr. Owen, a director at an international school in Vietnam, and his son struggled to come down from a tree they had climbed with their guide. Both were taken to a nearby hospital but died hours later. The fate of their guide remains unknown.
About Asian Giant Hornets
- They can grow up to 6.35 cm in length.
- The venom causes necrosis, which is the death of cells or tissue around the sting site.
- Multiple stings can be fatal, especially if the venom enters the bloodstream and reaches internal organs.
They were attacked by a swarm of Asian giant hornets – an invasive, predatory insect dubbed “murder hornets” – and stung more than a hundred times.
Published Nov 04, 2025, 05:36 PM
Summary: A tragic incident in Laos claimed the lives of an American father and son attacked by Asian giant hornets, highlighting the deadly risks posed by these invasive insects.