Discussion: hornets attack orienteerers in Czech republic

from the news

Hornets attack 30 orienteers in East Bohemia

Hornets attacked 30 participants in the Czech Orienteering Cup in the vicinity of Jičín, east Bohemia, over the weekend, Ivo Novák, spokesman for local rescuers who treated them, has told the Czech New Agency.

Some of the orienteers had more than 10 stings each, he added.

Four people had to be transported to hospital.

"They suffered an allergic reaction and had to be administered the necessary medicines and an infusion according to their condition," Novák said.

Three of them were released home, but a 44-year-old woman was in a serious condition. She was sent to the Teaching Hospital in Hradec Králové, east Bohemia.

She suffered a strong allergic reaction to tens of hornet stings that was manifested by edema, pain and respiratory troubles, the hospital's doctor said.

Her life is not in danger, Novák added.

Hornets attacked the first group of some 100 orienteers on Saturday afternoon, shortly after the start of the race when one of them probably got too close to their nest.

Two doctors' and five rescuers' teams, as well as a helicopter, eventually assisted at the scene of the incident, Novák said.

This made our state daily newspaper too - I can't recall the last time orienteering did that!

... and here it is in czech language, google-translated into english here below:

During the orienteering at Libín on Jičín a hornets looked out the unsuspecting racers and attacked. After the rescue operation, some runners were taken to hospital with serious injuries

Rescuers had to close on Saturday Libín to treat Jičín 30 competitors Czech Cup relay in orienteering, which attacked hornets. Four people were taken to hospitals, one woman's condition was serious. ČTK's spokesman said rescuers from the Hradec Králové region Ivo Novák.

Hornets attacked by him in the morning on the first one hundred racers. Some of bodajícího insect stings got through ten. The most seriously affected čtyřiačtyřicetiletá woman had to be Novak after treatment and intensive therapy flown to University Hospital in Hradec Králové.

Ended up in the same hospital, another two men and one woman. "We have suffered an allergic reaction, requiring submission of necessary medicines and infusions, depending on the severity of the disorder," said Smith.

Hornets attack apparently began shortly after the start of the race, when apparently one of the contestants was too close to the nest. Rescuers originally went to the most seriously injured racers, and eventually came to them other runners who needed treat. "We had to go to work mode for mass health and disability call to place additional forces and resources," said Smith. On the site eventually intervened two and five medical rescue crews and helicopters.

czech news with photo

This made our state daily newspaper too - I can't recall the last time orienteering did that!

Was it when Fletch got washed away by a dam? I imagine it'd have to be something pretty special to make The West - unlikely that even having locals in the World Champs would make it into the news here!

Looked like quite a major event.

Any event that Fletch runs in is a major event.

Might get some coverage for the nationals in a week or so then - any more dams to look out for, or do I miss them by skipping the midweek races?

Event was from the long series for relay teams meets in Czech Republic, less than 300 people.

And Europeans get so worried about Australian snakes. This seems much worse.

That's because it actually happened, unlike snakes, which are not real.

Sssssssssssssshhh!

@tRicky: …because they've been killed by the spiders?

Nah they were all crushed by drop bears.