A family adventure in Laos turned into a nightmare after Daniel Owen, 47, an American school principal, and his teenage son, Cooper, were stung to death by a swarm of giant hornets during a ziplining excursion.
The fatal incident occurred on 15 October at an eco-adventure resort near Luang Prabang, on the banks of the Mekong River.
Local authorities described the scene as “one of the most severe hornet attacks ever witnessed” in the region.
A Joyous Adventure Turns Fatal
Daniel Owen, who served as the director of Quality Schools International in Haiphong, Vietnam, had been enjoying a family getaway with his wife, Jessica, and their son.
What began as a thrilling zipline descent through the jungle canopy quickly descended into chaos when a swarm of Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia) attacked.
These hornets, notorious for their painful, venomous stings and intimidating size of nearly two inches, are considered the world’s largest hornet species.
According to reports, Daniel and Cooper were stung more than a hundred times while descending with their guide. Despite being conscious and initially stable, both succumbed to their injuries within hours of arriving at the local clinic.
Dr Phanomsay Phakan, who treated them at the Phakan Arocavet Clinic, said: “Their whole bodies were covered in red spots. It was very, very painful. A lot of stings, more than one hundred, over the whole body.”
He added, “I thought already that it’s a very dangerous situation because I had never seen it as bad as that.”
Dr Phakan, a veteran with over two decades in the field, confirmed that he had never encountered such a tragic case.
A Dedicated Educator Remembered
Daniel Owen, originally from Idaho, USA, had spent nearly two decades abroad, shaping young minds across multiple campuses under the Quality Schools International (QSI) network. His colleagues and students described him as a warm, driven leader with a deep commitment to education.
A statement from QSI read: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dan Owen, Director of QSI International School of Haiphong, and his son Cooper, due to a tragic accident.
Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving in five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to education. He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed.”
Resort Issues Heartfelt Statement
The Green Jungle Park, where the tragedy occurred, described the event as a freak, unforeseeable natural disaster.
A spokesperson said, “Green Jungle Park extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Daniel and Cooper Owen. Following this incident, we have reviewed all existing procedures.
This event is unprecedented in our experience and, to our understanding, in Luang Prabang as well. It was an unforeseeable and extraordinary natural occurrence.”
The popular resort, which markets itself as an eco-friendly adventure destination offering ziplining at around $20 per person, has since launched an internal safety review.
The Lethal Power of the Asian Giant Hornet
Experts have warned of the deadly potential of hornet attacks, particularly when nests are disturbed.
Ian Campbell, spokesperson for the British Beekeepers Association: “There is no threshold that has been set for the number of stings before triggering an allergic reaction and even death.
A lot of it is down to the individual response; people do get injured, people do get hospitalized, and, on occasion, people die. So there is a public health risk from this.”
He further explained that hornets “defend their nests vigorously and in force”, making encounters perilous for anyone who comes too close.
The loss of Daniel Owen and his son Cooper has sent shockwaves through the QSI International School of Haiphong community and beyond.
Tributes have poured in from students, parents, and colleagues who remember Daniel as a passionate leader and devoted father.
Both father and son will be remembered not only for their warmth and dedication but also for the profound impact they left on those around them.
As the investigation continues, authorities in Laos have urged all adventure parks in the area to strengthen wildlife monitoring and emergency response systems to prevent similar tragedies.
