A pensioner is now dead while another man is currently hospitalised after they were attacked hours apart by a swarm of bees at Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Haniff Mohammed also known as ‘Sunny’, 66.

The other victim has been identified only as ‘Ramlall’.

Reports are that residents of the area only learnt of the presence of the bees on Sunday afternoon after ‘Ramlall’ was stung and fell into a trench.

He was picked up and taken to the hospital where he remained a patient up to last night.

Residents told Stabroek News that after ‘Ramlall’ was attacked, the Neighbourhood Democratic

Council (NDC) in the area was informed.

Yesterday afternoon, they said the beekeepers visited the area to conduct an assessment when they discovered Mohammed’s body.

It is suspected that Mohammed was attacked by the bees sometime between Sunday night and yesterday morning. Mohammed was last seen alive around 8pm on Sunday.

The lifeless body of Mohammed was found in front of the door of a makeshift camp where he resides. The camp is among a few situated close to the seawall. Residents told this newspaper that fishermen use the camps to store items to ply their trade.

The dead man’s brother, Sharif Tulla told Stabroek News that he received a call from his neighbour who informed him that a body was discovered at one of the camps.

“Me neighbour give me a call and say that the guy that come fah look for the bees see the person dead,” Tulla said.

Upon arriving at the scene, Tulla said he learnt that it was Mohammed who had died.

Tulla related that he last saw Mohammed on Sunday night when he visited his house to collect dinner.

Tulla said he did not see Mohammed all day yesterday but he didn’t find it strange since he is usually “all over the place”.

“….Yesterday (Sunday) a guy (‘Ramlall’) get bite up and he fall in a trench… ..Like this one (Mohammed) like he ain’t focus is night or he probably ain’t know that the bees at the back deh or somebody raise up the bee and he get bite up,” Tulla said.

The police were summoned following the discovery of Mohammed’s body.

Tulla told Stabroek News that bee infestation would occur in the community from time to time. He recalled several months ago a female resident was hospitalsied after she was stung by bees.

Just about a week ago, Sirpaul Hemraj of Lot 95 Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder; Dorothy Adams, a housewife, 58, of Rotterdam Village, East Bank Berbice; and John Sutherland, a farmer, 57, of Eversham Village, Corentyne died after separate bee attacks in Berbice.