KUALA NERUS: The joy of three siblings playing at the playground turned into tragedy when one of them died after being stung by wasps in Kampung Tok Jembal, yesterday.
The victim, five-year-old Eidrish Mohd Khalid, died at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) at 11.20pm yesterday after suffering from some 60 stings all over his body.
The victim's father, Mohd Khalil Omar, 40, said at the time of the incident, he and his wife Norliza Shaparuddin, 36, and their three children were on holiday in the village and had planned to leave for their home in Ipoh at 6pm.
However, while getting ready to go home, he was approached by his eldest daughter, Nur Adelya Qaisara, 10, who informed him that her brother was attacked by wasps at 5.40pm which emerged from a nest under an abandoned floating jetty platform in the area.
"As soon as I heard Adelya's screams, I immediately ran to the scene and saw Eidrish lying on the ground with wasps all over his body.
"When I carried him up to the house, he (Eidrish) was still alive, but very weak and stiff. He was not screaming or crying," he said at his family's residence in Kampung Tok Jembal, here, today.
Apart from Eidrish, Khalid said he and his two children, Nur Adelya Qaisara and Nur Aiyris Dania, 7, were also stung by the wasps.
"Adelya is still being treated at the HSNZ Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for two stings while Aiyris is being treated as an outpatient.
"I was supposed to still be treated in the ward for almost 20 stings, but had to go home to arrange for Eidrish's funeral at about 10am today," he said.
Khalid said he accepted the death of his third child, but regretted the irresponsible attitude of those who left the jetty platform frame in the playground area without any maintenance.
"The jetty platform frame should not have been left in the playground area as it can be a habitat for venomous insects. I hope the relevant parties such as the local authority will take action before other lives are lost," he said.--BERNAMA