Mother and son airlifted to hospital after horror attack by swarm of bees

By EMMA NEWLANDS, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL Published: 19:59, 2 August 2026 | Updated: 19:59, 2 August 2026 A mother and her toddler son had to be airlifted to hospital after a terrifying attack by a swarm of bees. Rosie Kirkness, 31, and three-year-old Jamie Macdonald were set upon by thousands of the insects in their home town of Poolewe, Wester Ross. Ms Kirkness’s mother Susan, 57, has started a petition to ban beehives in public spaces in response to the incident, which she believes could have been fatal. She said the attack in June last year was ‘pretty traumatic’ and seeing her daughter and grandson covered ‘head to toe’ in stings is ‘a sight I’ll never get out of my head’. Her daughter and grandson were both stung at least 150 times, she said. Ms Kirkness had tried to brush away what she thought was a fly in her hair, but ‘then looked down and her arm was covered in bees’. She tried to fend the insects away from Jamie, who was in a pushalong car. Ms Kirkness, who runs Lochewe Bakery, was helped by a man who lives in the only house nearby. Her mother said: ‘I arrived and it was just like a horror scene. Jamie was vomiting up bees – he had inhaled so many, and been stung on his tongue, down his throat and in his ears and nose.’ Rosie and Jamie were attacked as they enjoyed a walk near Poolewe The mother and son were airlifted to hospital after the attack Rosie and Jamie suffered kidney issues, muscle spasms and cellulitis The pair were airlifted to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, and spent several days being treated for kidney issues, swelling, muscle spasms and cellulitis. Both later had to be readmitted, with Jamie suffering kidney issues, while Rosie now has to carry an adrenaline pen in case she is stung again. Mrs Kirkness, also of Poolewe, said: ‘The stings have gone but the trauma and the PTSD have not.’ Her petition calls on the Scottish Government to ban beehives in public access spaces until new safety laws are introduced. It points out: ‘There is no clear legislation regulating where beehives can be placed in relation to public spaces, nor any requirement for safety signage when beekeepers are working on hives. ‘Simple, common sense regulation could prevent similar incidents and protect children, vulnerable people, and the wider public.’ One unnamed beekeeper said they had heard of a similar incident last year involving two children. The Scottish Beekeepers Association told The Sunday Post that clear safety standards are vital, adding: ‘Avoid siting hives close to public rights of way or where children or animals are nearby.’ The Scottish Government said: ‘The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, makes it an offence for a person to allow creatures, such as bees, to cause injury, alarm or annoyance to the public.’ It added that local authorities enforce the legislation.