A woman who died after sustaining multiple stings from a swarm of bees in north Co Mayo has been named locally as Kathleen Devine, an award-winning honey maker, well known in beekeeping circles. <\/p>\n
Ms Devine (73) was tending to beehives near her home in Ballycastle when the incident happened early on Monday afternoon. <\/p>\n
Emergency services were contacted and she was brought by the Coast Guard\u2019s Rescue 118 helicopter to Sligo University Hospital.<\/p>\n
A local man, who did not wish to be identified, said neighbours rushed to assist Ms Devine as soon as they became aware of the situation. Some of the locals were also stung by the swarm while attempting to help, including her husband, Des. <\/p>\n
\u201cNeighbours raised the alarm and the victim was on the ground when I arrived,\u201d the man said. \u201cTwo local people were treated by ambulance personnel at the scene for stings.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man said there was a \u201cshock, horror and disbelief\u201d in the community as a result of what happened to the woman, who was thought to have initially shown some improvement while in the helicopter. <\/p>\n
Ms Devine had won numerous prizes for her honey produce at various agricultural shows countrywide. Her husband is also a distinguished apiarist.<\/p>\n
Together, the couple have kept and nurtured hives at various locations throughout the north Mayo region. Only last month, they had showcased their wares at the Bonniconlon Agricultural Show, near Ballina.<\/p>\n
The show\u2019s chairman, John O\u2019Hara, recalled how beekeeping was \u201ca labour of love\u201d for the popular couple.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all shocked by what has happened and our committee extends its deepest sympathy to the Devine family, their relatives and friends,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Hara said the Devines kept hives at several different locations, including lands at Ballycastle, north Mayo, where the unfortunate events occurred.<\/p>\n
\u201cKathleen and Des took immense pride in their hobby.\u201d <\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il Cllr Michael Loftus described the incident as \u201ca tragedy\u201d for the woman, her husband and family. \u201cWe are all shocked and taken aback about … the death of a person from bee stings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Following a postmortem, Ms Devine\u2019s body will be released to her family for burial or cremation. The coroner for Sligo, in whose jurisdiction the death occurred, has been notified and an inquest will be held at a later date.<\/p>\n