Man stung to death by swarm of bees after trying to remove hive from backyard couch

An Arizona man was stung to death by a swarm of bees after the homeowner attempted to remove a hive that the insects had built on his backyard couch.

According to Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, authorities responded to a call Sunday evening of a man being stung “by numerous bees.”

When first responders arrived on scene, the man was found in his front yard “covered with bees.”

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“During the investigation, it was learned that the victim had gone out to his backyard to remove a bee hive from a couch when the bees became agitated and stung the victim,” Sheriff’s spokesman Alfonso Zavala said in a statement.

Firefighters sprayed the 51-year-old victim with water in an effort to allow medics to remove the man from the scene of the swarming.

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Epigmenio Gonzalez was rushed to hospital where he died of his injuries, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

A woman was also taken to hospital after suffering “numerous bee stings.”

Authorities said several first responders were also stung, but none needed medical attention.