Košice cemetery: 70-year-old man killed by hornet attack

A 70-year-old man died at a public cemetery in Košice after being attacked by hornets while cleaning a grave. The insects had built a nest underneath the tombstone and attacked the man directly in the face and head when disturbed.

According to examining physician Otto Mižík, the man suffered massive anaphylactic shock. Although his family reported that he had no known allergies to insects or medication, the severity of the attack led to his collapse. Emergency responders and firefighters attempted to resuscitate him for over 45 minutes, but he could not be saved.

Firefighters used beekeeping equipment to remove the nest and sealed the cracks in the grave with mounting foam to ensure the safety of other visitors. Zoologist Martin Suvák noted that hornets naturally seek dark, protected cavities like those under tombstones, and that any perceived threat can trigger an aggressive mass attack.