A 5-year-old boy was killed and two of his older siblings injured on Wednesday evening after they were attacked by hornets in Kampong Thom province’s Santuk district, police said yesterday.

Soeurng Phea, chief of police in Santuk district’s Brasat commune, said yesterday that the three siblings were following their parents to work in their rice field about 2 kilometres from their house.

“On the way, those kids saw a nest of hornets and they grabbed sticks to hit the nest, making the hornets come out and sting them,” he said.

“The victim’s brother and sister, who were seriously injured, escaped from the scene, but the victim could not run.”

Phea said that victim Din Samnang was stung about 50 times all over his body, and had been sent to a private clinic.

His condition was so serious that he was then sent on to a hospital in Siem Reap, but died en route.

The other two children, aged 7 and 10, are still receiving treatment at the private clinic, Phea added.

The victims’ father, Moun Kley, 41, said yesterday that he was devastated by the loss before breaking into sobs.