Bee sting reaction killed man, 59

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A verdict of accidental death has been recorded on a Ceredigion man who died after being stung by a bee.

Richard Francis, 59, was stung on the elbow and within minutes complained of feeling unwell and then collapsed, the inquest in Welshpool heard.

Father-of-two Mr Francis from Talybont, near Aberystwyth was walking with his wife in Builth Wells, Powys on 22 July.

The cause of death was given as anaphylactic shock caused by an allergy to a bee sting.

His wife Jacqui Francis told the inquest that her husband, an accountant, had suffered a reaction to a sting 20 years ago and had then been prescribed steroids but since then the prescription had lapsed.

She added that she normally carried antihistamines to help treat a sting, but did not have any on the day of her husband's death.

Mrs Francis said: "I was walking in front and my husband was behind me when he said, "I have been stung".

"He showed me his elbow and there were two marks.

"I'd got some antiseptic spray and put that on it."

Sweating

Mrs Francis added that after walking about 150 yards, her husband's condition deteriorated and she saw him leaning against a stone wall, and sweating profusely.

Mrs Francis said she ran to a house for help and soldier Alan Roynon attempted to call an ambulance.

In the meantime, a passing farmer had come to help, Mrs Francis added.

After failing to contact the ambulance service, they decided to drive Mr Francis to Builth Wells Cottage Hospital just a short distance away.

In a statement read out in court, Mr Roynon said that Mr Francis was in a semi-conscious state during the drive to the hospital.

At hospital, Mrs Francis said her husband's condition stabilised slightly when he was given adrenaline and oxygen.

However just 10 minutes later his condition worsened and despite lengthy attempts to revive Mr Francis he died.