Bees Render Climber Unconscious

Australian climber climber Keith Lockwood survived a life- threatening bee attack on Mt Arapiles at the weekend. The 55 year old Lockwood was climbing on the right side of the Tiger Wall at the mounts when a swarm of bees attacked him at about 3pm on Saturday. He was 60 meters off the ground at the time.

"I noticed something was buzzing around and thought maybe it was just a march fly, so I swatted it away," he said. "But then a few others turned up and I discovered they were bees and they were having a go at me. It was full on. I had to untie myself from an anchor and down-climb about 25 metres with one hand and use my other hand to swat the bees away. They followed me as I descended."

The attack did not ease until Mr Lockwood was some 40 metres from where he first encountered the bees. "My main trouble was keeping them away from my eyes and mouth," he said. Lockwood, suffered more than 50 stings. "I vomited and kind of passed out and the next thing I knew Steve was there pumping me with adrenalin," Lockwood said.

Steve Monks, a local climber, went to Mr. Lockwood's assistance with a vial of adrenalin and syringe acquired from a Natimuk resident who was allergic to bees.

Monks said although clearly unwell, Lockwood had done what he could to survive. "He was passed out when I got there, but he was breathing," Mr Monks said. "He had managed to clip himself on to an anchor and to roll over into the recovery position."

Despite Mr Lockwood rock- climbing for more than 40 years, the incident was the first time bees had attacked him, and conceeds the adrenalin shot probably saved him.

An ambulance transferred Mr Lockwood to Wimmera Base Hospital. Natimuk police, State Emergency Service volunteers and Arapiles Rescue Group members attended the incident.

Doctors released Lockwood from intensive care yesterday.