A groundskeeper at the Pusch Ridge Golf Course in Oro Valley, Arizona, died in the hospital last month days after being stung by a swarm of bees.
Rick Messina, 57, began doing agronomy work for course operator El Conquistador Golf in 2022, the company told USA Today Wednesday.
On June 24, as Messina was mowing the grass around the eighth hole at Pusch Ridge, he came into contact with the swarm and was stung.
He died in the hospital from unspecified complications from the stings on June 27, El Conquistador Golf said.
“Rick was a dedicated and cherished member of our team, known for his exceptional work ethic, positive attitude and unwavering commitment to his duties. His sudden passing is a profound loss to our work family and our community,” El Conquistador Golf said in a statement to multiple outlets.
Following the incident, beekeepers investigated all 45 holes of the golf course for hives and more bees before declaring the area clear.
Oro Valley officials have since installed signs warning people about “wild and venomous creatures” across the course, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
Neither El Conquistador Golf nor Oro Valley authorities have said what type of bees were swarming.
On April 30, beekeeper Matt Hilton got his 15 minutes of fame and later his own baseball card after being called in to clear a swarm of bees that settled atop protective netting between the field of play and the stands at Chase Field in Phoenix, home of Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
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