An American father and his teenage son were killed during a vacation in Laos after being attacked by a swarm of Asian giant hornets while ziplining at an eco-adventure park near Luang Prabang.
The victims were identified as 47-year-old Daniel Owen, director of an international private school in Vietnam, and his 15-year-old son, Cooper. The attack occurred on October 15, when the pair were descending from a tree platform and reportedly endured more than 100 stings each before being rushed to a provincial hospital, where they died within hours.
Medical personnel described the scene as unprecedented, with the father and son covered in red spots and showing signs of mass envenomation. The adventure park called the incident an “unforeseeable and extraordinary natural occurrence” and announced a review of its safety protocols.
Owen, originally from Idaho, had served in international education for 18 years. The school community expressed deep grief, highlighting his warm leadership, global service and dedication to students across multiple countries.
Local authorities are investigating the exact circumstances of the hornet attack and reviewing gear and emergency procedures at the resort, while the international education network mourns the sudden loss of two members of its community.