Honey bees flying. | Photo: Shutterstock_1265145760_

A sub-chief died after he was stung by a swam of honey bees in Jebel Ladu Payam of Juba County on the weekend.

Dominic Legge Wani, 56, was at a funeral at a relative’s home in Mengi village when he was attacked while resting under a tree.

Santo Wani, a nephew to the victim said the incident happened on Friday evening.

“Sincerely, he is not sick, but it was last Friday in the evening, there was a funeral in his uncle’s house, but the place was attacked by honey bees and bite him badly and he died around 4 pm,” Wani told Eye Radio on Tuesday from Jebel Ladu.

He said the bees attacked other mourners but all have survived except for his uncle.

Late Legge was buried on Saturday in his home village in Lodu Payam. He is survived by several children.

Africanized honey bees are known to be aggressive and fiercely defending their hives from threats.

People who are allergic to insect venom can die from anaphylactic shock from just one single bee sting.

However, an adult that does not have an allergy to insect venom can sustain hundreds or even thousands of stings without dying from the venom’s toxic effects.