Additional Coverage:
- An American man and his son die after suffering stings from a swarm of wasps while ziplining in Laos (apnews.com)
Tragedy Strikes in Laos: Father and Son Die After Horrific Wasp Attack During Zipline Adventure
Luang Prabang, Laos – A tragic incident unfolded last month at a popular adventure camp in Laos, claiming the lives of an American man and his teenage son after they were swarmed by wasps during a ziplining excursion. The two, identified as Dan Owen and his son Cooper, sustained over a hundred stings each, leading to severe anaphylactic shock.
The harrowing attack occurred on October 15th at the Green Jungle Park, located just outside the historical city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the pair descended from a tree at the conclusion of their zipline ride, they were ambushed by a swarm of aggressive insects.
Following the attack, Dan and Cooper were rushed to a local clinic before being transported to Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital. Dr.
Jorvue Yianouchongteng, the emergency room physician who received them, described their critical condition upon arrival. “The son was unconscious and passed away after half an hour, while the father was conscious and passed away about three hours later,” Dr.
Yianouchongteng told The Associated Press. “We tried our best to save them but we couldn’t.”
The physician confirmed that both individuals suffered from severe anaphylactic shock due to the numerous stings, though the exact cause of death is still under investigation. While the Asian giant hornet, colloquially known as the “murder hornet,” is present in Laos, it remains unclear which specific species of wasp was responsible for the attack.
Neither the local clinic nor the Green Jungle Park has offered comment on the incident, and the Laos Foreign Ministry has yet to respond to inquiries. The U.S. State Department confirmed the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Luang Prabang but declined further comment, citing privacy concerns for the family.
Dan Owen was the respected director of the QSI International School of Haiphong in Vietnam, part of the Quality Schools International chain. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Quality Schools International praised Owen for “touching countless lives” during his 18 years with the organization, where he had served at five different schools.
“He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed,” the school stated. “Our sincere condolences go out to the Owen family and all who knew and loved them.”