Man gets attacked by bees, released from hospital

A Breckenridge man was swarmed and stung by a hive of bees on Friday, while he was outside on his property. The man was taken to the hospital in Abilene after the incident, but has since been released, officials said.

Kenneth LaFavers, 77, was mowing his yard Friday in the 300 block of W. Lindsey when he was attacked. Coalesce Bee Company and Cook’s Comb Honey were called in to remove the hive on Monday.

Initially, first responders thought they were Africanized bees, which are prone to aggressive behavior. But at this time there is no evidence to suggest they were Africanized. 

“Bees communicate through vibration in the hive,” Coalesce Bee Company Owner Brenda Gaton said. “When there is disruption from outside the hive such as the noise and vibrations from the lawn mower or the current road construction, the bees become aggressive, defensive and will attack.” 

Donnie Sechrest, Owner of Sechrest Constructon provided the man-lift to the bee removal companies to assist in removing the hive safely. Mr. LaFavers was transported to an Abilene hospital on Friday, but has been released.