Bee Victim’s Condition Improves

The condition of an 88-year-old Apache Junction woman who suffered more than 1,000 bee stings was upgraded to fair Saturday.

“It’s surprising,” said Mike Farber, spokesman for the Apache Junction Fire Department. “For someone her age, she’s lucky to be alive.”

The doctor who treated Mary Williams said she even had swallowed some bees during the attack about 10 a.m. Friday.

Williams was swarmed when she disturbed a beehive measuring 8 feet by 13 feet in an abandoned house on her property.

Authorities should know by Tuesday whether the bees were European honeybees, or the more aggressive Africanized, or “killer,” bees.

Rescuers used a fire hose to spray the bees off Williams. Dr. Bob Laney, who treated Williams, said that virtually every exposed inch of her skin was stung.