Female climber, 33, airlifted to hospital after being stung by wasps so badly she suffered severe allergic reaction
A 33-year-old climber was airlifted to hospital in British Columbia after being stung around 12 times when she stepped on a wasp nest during her descent from Redoubt Wall near Lions Bay. She suffered a severe allergic reaction despite not needing an EpiPen, illustrating how multiple wasp stings can quickly become a serious emergency in remote terrain.
Her companion called emergency services after initial reports incorrectly suggested she had been stung 100 times; rescuers later confirmed the total was closer to 12. Lions Bay Search and Rescue treated her beneath dense tree cover before North Shore Rescue extracted her by helicopter, in the area’s second wasp-related rescue this summer. Rescuers said a mild winter and early warm spring may have contributed to larger, more defensive yellowjacket colonies across British Columbia.
- Climber airlifted after about 12 wasp stings triggered a severe allergic reaction.
- Initial reports of 100 stings were later corrected.
- Rescuers report particularly defensive wasp nests this summer.