Woman dies in wasp sting attack near Chelmsford
A woman has died of a cardiac arrest after being stung by wasps in Essex.
The woman, who was in her 70s, was walking in The Street, Galleywood, near Chelmsford, at about 13:15 BST on Sunday when both she and her husband were stung.
Essex Air Ambulance and the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) attended, but the woman was pronounced dead at hospital.
It appeared the cardiac arrest was caused by the stings, EEAS said.
Her husband received a small number of stings in the incident near the village's social club, they added.
Kate Wilson, who lives near the scene of the attack, said her husband, an anaesthetist, had gone to assist the couple but was unable to help.
"I am very surprised a wasp nest of that size could take somebody's life," she said.
"Apparently [the nest] had been prodded and wasps had been disturbed and that is why they attacked the passers-by, which is incredibly sad - they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Essex Police said the case had now been referred to the coroner and an inquest would be held.