Arizona hiker airlifted to hospital after 100+ bee stings on easter weekend

A hiker in Arizona was rushed to hospital in critical condition after being repeatedly stung by over 100 bees on a mountain trail over Easter weekend.

Bee attack leaves man unable to descend lookout mountain preserve

Emergency responders coordinated a helicopter rescue operation to extract the man, who reported being 'unable to continue his descent' from the summit of Lookout Mountain Preserve in north Phoenix at around 10am on Saturday.

Technical rescue teams from Phoenix and Glendale responded to the incident, employing a Firebird 10 helicopter to airlift the stricken hiker to safety.

He was transferred to an awaiting ambulance at the trailhead and taken to hospital in critical condition, Phoenix Fire Department reported.

In a statement, the department warned hikers to 'avoid disturbing hives, skip scented products when outdoors, wear light-colored clothing, and if you encounter a swarm – run away quickly and protect your head and face'.

Professor Dr Frank Lovecchio of Arizona State University, an expert on bee stings, told Fox 10 news that the venom from repeated bee stings effectively 'crushes your muscle'.

He explained that bees in Arizona are highly aggressive and it's not uncommon for someone to be stung hundreds of times in a single incident.

Lovecchio reiterated the fire department's advice, adding that if confronted with a bee colony: 'Keep your mouth shut, cover your mouth and run as fast as you can.'

Arizona has struggled with aggressive Africanized bees since their arrival in the 1990s, with minor disturbances often sparking swarms that can endanger people, pets and livestock.

Warm weather has contributed to the bee population's rise, and Saturday's case was the latest in a line of such episodes, with five people recently stung during a university women's lacrosse game.