A 33-year-old woman was airlifted to a hospital after suffering a systemic allergic reaction from multiple wasp stings in British Columbia.
A 33-year-old woman was airlifted to a hospital after suffering a systemic allergic reaction from multiple wasp stings in British Columbia. While descending Redoubt Wall, the climber trod on a wasp nest, causing her to be stung repeatedly. Although initial reports suggested she was stung over 100 times, Maria Masiar, the search manager for Lions Bay Search and Rescue, clarified that the climber likely suffered between 12 and 20 stings. Despite the lower number of stings, the venom caused a full systemic reaction, resulting in in hives, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Rescue teams deployed ground and helicopter crews to hoist the woman from the mountain and deliver her to B.C. Emergency Health Services. Maria Masiar noted that this year has been particularly active for wasps due to a mild winter and warm spring. She warned that even a few stings can escalate into a backcountry emergency, and recommended that hikers carry antihistamines and an EpiPen to manage potential reactions.