Mass. woman swarmed, stung by wasps

ATTLEBORO, Mass., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts woman was in intensive care after falling onto a wasp nest and being stung more than 500 times, authorities said.

The 53-year-old Attleboro, Mass., resident fell outside her home and was swarmed by yellow jackets from the disturbed nest, The (Attleboro) Sun Chronicle reported.

Firefighters used a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher to disperse the insects but were only partially successful, Fire Captain Tim Birch said.

Rescue crews had to deal with yellow jackets even inside the ambulance, and once the unidentified woman was taken to a hospital, staff there had to cope with yellow jackets in the emergency room.

The woman was recovering in the hospital's intensive care unit, Birch said.

Paramedics treated three firefighters for stings.

Fire officials looking for the nest afterward couldn't find it and said they believe it is underground somewhere.