Pensioner died after being stung by ‘wasp’

A PENSIONER died after being stung by a wasp, an inquest heard.

Ian Flack, 76, who helped several local people with their gardening, suffered an anaphylactic shock while working in a garden.

Passers-by and a passing vet were flagged down and tried to resuscitate him but he was declared dead at the scene on October 24 last year.

Mr Flack, a retired forestry worker, of Cae’r Hafod Canol, Bontuchel, near Ruthin, was carrying out work for Eileen Jones at her home when he was stung. When she returned home he was sitting in his van, the hearing was told.

He said he had been stung by a bee and felt unwell. He went to sit in her porch but as she called a doctor he collapsed, so she dialled 999. In a statement read at the Ruthin hearing Mrs Jones said his face was purple and his lips and face were swollen.

A defibrillator was brought from the village hall but there were no signs of life and paramedics confirmed he had died.

A post-mortem examination by Dr Mared Owen-Casey confirmed he had died of anaphylactic shock but there was nothing to indicate he had been stung.

His GP, Dr Peter Leatt, said that in October 2017 Mr Flack had called in the surgery complaining of feeling unwell after being stung on the back of the neck. He did not have any serious reaction and recovered after sitting in the waiting-room for a while. He was then prescribed antihistamine.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Joanne Lees, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, said it was likely that Mr Flackhad been stung by more than one wasp on the day he died.