COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Thirty-eight students at a Catholic school in Cocoa Beach were attacked by a swarm of bees while on recess, WFTV learned on Thursday. Some of the students were stung six times, rescue officials said.
Students at the Our Saviour's Catholic School, located on North Atlantic Avenue, were stung by bees while outside for recess.
According to parents and students WFTV talked to, some of the children were playing basketball when the ball struck a hive, and the bees attacked. They said the doors to some of the classrooms were locked, so they had few places to run to.
Stephanie Norman and her classmate showed WFTV the big red stings they received after they were attacked by bees.
"There are like thousands in our room. Everyone was screaming and running in there," said Norman.
"They just swarmed out and tons of bees and they just started stinging everybody," said student Ocean Jefferson.
When they were finally able to get inside one of the classroom, the bees followed and continued stinging children inside.
"I saw a person covered head to toe in bees," said student Conner James.
Fire rescue set up triage in the school cafeteria, pulling out stingers and monitoring the kids for any allergic reactions.
Cape Canaveral Hospital even sent out updates on Twitter, as it mobilized for about 50 patients. Luckily, no child had to be transported to the hospital.
As word spread, parents rushed to the school.
"In the classroom there are bees dead on the floor and on the windows they're still alive," said parent Karlen Stephenson.
Fire rescue said it believes the bees were honey bees, which still pack a painful punch.
Students were allowed to go home for the day, but the school will be closed for the rest of the week.
A bee removal service was called to the scene to make sure the bees are gone before Monday.
WFTV
