An American private school director and his teenage son were killed after being attacked by hundreds of hornets while ziplining during a vacation in Laos earlier this month, according to local reports and diplomatic sources, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Daniel Owen, 47, and his 15-year-old son, Cooper, died on October 15 after being swarmed by what officials believe were Asian giant hornets while participating in a ziplining excursion at an eco-adventure resort near the city of Luang Prabang.
Deeply saddened by the loss of Daniel Owen and his son Cooper after a tragic hornet attack in Laos. https://t.co/PTsgiieSFy
— 97.5 FM Waco (@ilove975fm) November 3, 2025
The pair, who had been living in Vietnam, were reportedly attacked mid-zipline and were unable to reach safety as the insects surrounded them and their guide.
A source close to U.S. diplomats in Laos told The Times that rescuers struggled to bring the victims down from a tree as the hornets continued to swarm.
Both Owen and his son were conscious when they arrived at a local hospital, but later died from their injuries. Dr. Phanomsay Phakan of the Phakan Arocavet Clinic, where the two were treated, described the scene as unlike anything he had ever encountered.
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“Their whole bodies were covered in red spots. It was very, very painful. A lot of stings, more than one hundred, over the whole body,” he told reporters. “I thought already that it’s a very dangerous situation because I had never seen it as bad as that.”
⚠️ Important
An American private school director and his teenage son have been stung to death by giant hornets while ziplining on vacation in Asia
Daniel Owen 47, and his son Cooper 15, died after being swarmed by Asian giant hornets during a trip at an eco-adventure resort pic.twitter.com/Xkzqxf8Ut8
— Open News© (@OpenNewNews) November 3, 2025
Officials said there were no signs of anaphylactic shock prior to their deaths, suggesting the stings themselves and resulting trauma caused the fatalities.
Originally from Idaho, Owen had spent nearly two decades living and working overseas with his family. He served as the director of the Haiphong branch of Quality Schools International (QSI), a private educational network serving children of diplomats and expatriates in multiple countries.
In a statement posted to social media, QSI confirmed the deaths and paid tribute to Owen’s career and commitment to education.
“We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dan Owen, Director of QSI International School of Haiphong, and his son Cooper, due to a tragic accident,” the organization wrote.
“Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving in five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to education. He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed. Our sincere condolences go out to the Owen family and all who knew and loved them.”
Owen, his wife Jennifer, and their son had been living in Vietnam at the time of the trip. Social media posts show the family frequently enjoyed outdoor adventures such as climbing and skiing. The Laos trip was intended as a father-son excursion to explore the jungle.
Asian giant hornets, sometimes referred to as “murder hornets,” are among the largest hornets in the world, with venom that can cause kidney failure, tissue damage, and cardiac arrest when multiple stings occur.
Laotian authorities have not released further details on the ongoing investigation.
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