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Car crash victim attacked by bee swarm

A swarm of bees attacked the 18-year-old man. Photo: Getty.

A Northern Territory driver luckily escaped harm when he rolled his vehicle, only to be stung by a swarm of angry bees that he had been transporting.

The 18-year-old driver was towing a trailer carrying crates of bees when the trailer's wheel slipped off the edge of the road 17km north of Katherine on Thursday afternoon, Duty Superintendent Louise Jorgensen said.

The vehicle fishtailed and flipped about 10 metres into scrubland, causing the crates to dislodge and the bees to escape.


Duty Supt Jorgensen said the bees then swarmed the area and stung the man on the face three times.

The man suffered minor swelling and pain, but was otherwise uninjured.

Duty Supt Jorgensen said police and fire crews were called to remove the vehicle because of the bee hazard at the accident, reports the ABC.

She noted that emergency services were concerned people who saw the wreckage, might stop and get stung as well.

Duty Supt Jorgensen said the bees were initially more of an issue than the wreckage, as emergency services are not equipped with beekeeping hats as part of their personal protection.

News break – March 13