A 60-year-old man, Ronnie Ang, died in 2022 due to organ failure caused by a swarm of hornets. Ang was cycling along a park connector in Sembawang on July 4 when he was attacked by the hornets near the Sembawang God of Wealth Temple.
Hospital
He suffered multiple stings and was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) for treatment. Despite being treated for possible allergies and multi-organ failure due to insect stings, Ang passed away on July 7. reported CNA.
An inquiry into his death began on March 5, 2023, at a coroner’s court. The court heard that Ang did not show signs of anaphylaxis, but his history of high blood pressure led to an enlarged heart. A senior consultant at KTPH, Lim Chiow Teen, testified that Ang was transferred to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) after preliminary tests in the emergency room showed a worsening trend. Ang was treated for possible allergies and multi-organ failure due to insect stings, but there is no general antidote for insect stings or a specific antidote for hornet stings.
Ang’s daughter and widow raised questions about KTPH’s protocols, including why toxicology tests were not performed at the emergency department and why tetanus shots were not administered. Lim, who is from MICU and not the emergency department, stated that there was no specific toxicology test available for hornet stings and tetanus shots were not part of the hospital’s protocol for insect stings. The inquiry into Ang’s death is ongoing.
Following the incident, the hornet nest was removed by NParks in July 2022. The case highlights the importance of understanding the risks associated with insect stings and the need for appropriate treatment when dealing with such incidents.