'Murder hornet' swarm kills father and son ziplining, pair stung more than 100 times
- - 'Murder hornet' swarm kills father and son ziplining, pair stung more than 100 times
Natalie Neysa Alund November 4, 2025 at 5:52 PM
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An American father and son died after being stung by a swarm of hornets while ziplining in Southeast Asia, local officials confirmed.
Daniel Owen, 47, originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and his son Cooper, 15, died following the attack last month at Green Jungle Park in Laos, just northeast of Thailand.
Phanomsay Phakan, director of the Phakan Arocavet Clinic, where both victims were taken to be treated, confirmed the incident took place on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
"It was very brief and rushed," Phakan wrote in an email to USA TODAY. He did not elaborate.
A hornet nest.
The pair were apparently stung by hundreds of Asian giant hornets as they descended from a tree with a ziplining guide at the adventure resort, U.K. newspaper The Times reported.
Owen and his son were apparently on vacation in the country when they died after being stung more than 100 times, the outlet reported.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Owen family and Green Jungle Park.
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Daniel Owen was the director of a school organization in Vietnam
A U.S. Department of State spokesperson confirmed two U.S. citizens died in Luang Prabang in northern Laos, People reported, adding, "Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones during this difficult time, we have no further comment."
USA TODAY has reached out to the federal agency.
Owen, who lived in Vietnam at the time of his death, was the director of QSI International School of Haiphong, Quality Schools International (QSI) said on its Facebook page.
"We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dan Owen," The statement on social media went on to say. "Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving in five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to education."
"He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed," the post continues. "Our sincere condolences go out to the Owen family and all who knew and loved them."
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What are giant Asian hornets?
Giant Asian hornets, the largest hornets in the world, reach up to two inches long and prey on bees and other insects.
A worker displaying hornets after he used a gasoline-powered vacuum to suck up the insects from a nest.
"They can conduct mass attacks on honey bee hives, destroying the hive in a matter of hours," the Washington State Department of Agriculture released in a statement on its website after the hornets were found in Whatcom County in 2020.
Sometimes dubbed "murder hornets," the insects cause dozens of deaths each year in Asia where they are commonly found in countries including Japan.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Swarm of hornets kill father and son ziplining in Laos
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