A swarm of bees forced Fountain Valley first responders to call for backup after they were stung attempting to rescue several people from a swarm of the insects
Eric Licas
The Orange County Register
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Firefighters attempted to rescue several people from a swarm of bees in Fountain Valley, but were also attacked by the insects and had to call for backup before two badly stung patients could be taken to a hospital Tuesday, June 22.
Santa Ana resident John Madrid told a videographer that he, his girlfriend, and his best friend were planning to eat at Sizzler at 16373 S. Harbor Boulevard. They pulled into the restaurant's parking lot at about 3 p.m. and were surrounded by the buzzing insects as soon as they stepped out of their car.
"We parked. I got out. There's a few bees and I swiped a couple, and then there's 15," Madrid said. "I started running like crazy, and they attacked my best friend and girlfriend."
The three of them scrambled, Madrid said. He wound up stung, but not nearly as bad as the other two people he was with.
"My buddy's 315 pounds, big man, strong guy," Madrid said. "And he's crying like a baby: 'help me John!'"
At some point, Madrid managed to reach his girlfriend. He said he removed about 15 bees that had crawled into her hair. He was pulling stingers out of her neck before firefighters arrived just a few minutes later.
