12-08-2025
Professor, 30, killed by swarm of bees that repeatedly stung her until she had a heart attack after disturbing hive
A YOUNG geology professor has sadly died after being stung by a vicious swarm of bees.
Andrea del Pilar Fandiño, 30, was doing fieldwork in a part of rural Colombia when the swarm descended.
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She was with two other colleagues at the time, one of whom managed to protect himself with a jacket.
The others were horribly stung by the bees.
Andrea died while being flown to a hospital in the Colombian capital Bogotá the next day.
She was a professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the National University of Colombia, according to NeedToKnow.
The young geologist had recently Caldas University and was studying for a postgrad degree at the National University.
The horror incident took place on Tuesday, August 5.
Gabriela Delgado, dean of the Faculty of Sciences at the National University, said: "It was a strange attack.
"They encountered the bees without any prior warning.
"They didn't hear anything, not even the typical buzzing."
She and the other geologist who was stung were rushed to a medical centre in Ortega.
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But given the severity of the attack, Andrea was due to be transferred to Bogotá the next day.
However, while en route she suffered severe anaphylaxis with complications.
Despite doctors' best efforts, she sadly passed away.
Her colleague is still in intensive care.
Following Andrea's death, a university spokesperson said: "With profound sorrow, we bid farewell to our beloved professor Andrea Fandiño Palacios, who dedicated her life with passion to geology and with love to her students, friends, and family.
"Her smile, her humanity, and her unconditional love for geology forever marked those of us who had the privilege of knowing her."
Diego Matiz, mayor of Ortega, told local media: "When this situation became known, all necessary protocols were activated.
"The geologist was in one of the 124 villages in our municipality, a short distance from the town centre and the hospital.
