Press Releases

Contact: Edie Smith, Spokesperson
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Media representatives can receive press releases via e-mail.

Telephone: work (207) 592-4348

Fax: (207) 287-6395

July 25, 2009

15-Year-Old Girl Suffering from Bee Sting Carried Off Trail

Township 6, Range 9 - A 15-year-old Melborne, Mass., girl suffered a severe reaction to a bee sting late this morning (July 27), and needed to be carried off the Appalachian Trail in the Gulf Hagas area.

The teen is being treated at Mayo Hospital in Dover. She is not being identified at this time.

The teen was hiking with a group of 12 people. They were traveling from Gulf Hagas Trail onto the AT when she suffered the bee sting and broke into severe hives. She was unable to walk and was in and out of conciousness, according to Game Warden Mike Morrisson.

Friends gave the teen Benadryl, and also administered an "Epi shot."

Two friends hiked down the trail, approximately three miles, to the parking lot by Katahdin Iron Works. A "ridge runner," a woman with the Appalachian Trail Club, gave the pair a ride to where they could get a cell phone signal and call for help.

Milo Ambulance, Milo and Brownville fire departments, and volunteers responded. The Maine Warden Service received word after 2 p.m. Sgt. Bill Chandler, Game Warden Eric Dauphinee and Morrisson responded.

The teen was carried off the trail, and en route the group experienced a hail storm "with hail half the size of golf balls," according to Warden Morrisson. "We all got drenched," he said.

By the time the group reached Pleasant River, the sun was shining. For her safety, the teen needed to walk with assistance across the knee-deep river to get to the K-I parking lot, about 300 yards from the shore.

Her condition is unknown. The teen was off the trail at 6 p.m.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Press Releases