Action 3 News - Omaha, Nebraska News, Weather, and Sports | A Rare Bee Attack Kills Well Known Clothing Store Owner
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Omaha, NE- Bee sting deaths are rare. Nationally there are 40 deaths each year. Severe allergic reactions are also rare.. between .5 to 5% of the population. But it happened to an Omaha man Wednesday.
Steven Parsow died after being rushed to the hospital about 4pm Wednesday.
Four boys made up the Parsow family. They're known for their upscale clothing store at Regency Court. It's been in Omaha for more than 50 years. Brother David Parsow says, "It's unfathomable. No books can prepare you for a freak thing like this."
On Steven's day off from the store, while he was mowing the lawn near Elmwood Park, a swarm of bees attacked him. David says, "People ask me whether he was allergic to bees. I say whether or not he was allergic isn't as important for the answer. It's that he was stung 12 times." For almost an hour paramedics and ER doctors worked on him.
"Just shut him down, " says David. He says he watched as doctors used shock paddles and tried to revive his younger brother in the ER. "It's already been how many minutes? They told us from the start there wasn't a beat. They could not get a beat."
Even though heart disease runs in the Parsow family..... David had heart surgery, another brother died several years ago of heart problems. But David says 48 year old Steven was in top shape. He got up every day, rain or shine, at 4am to run six miles with his wife.
Steven's passion was tending to rescued cats, dogs and his garden and yard. He gave away fresh vegetables to his customers at Parsow's store every Monday and Thursday. "It's just an absolute crime to have his life end in the yard the way it did."
David says, "I know this isn't the first time this happened that someone has died of a bee sting. But to you.. to your blood... your baby brother.. It's just very diffiicult to grasp, " David tearfully said while sitting in the family store.
One paramedic says you could be allergic and not even know it, even if you've been bitten once before. It's the amount of poison and venom that causes your body to shut down.
Services for Steven Parsow will be Friday at 11am at Beth El Synagogue.
Reported by Michelle Bandur;michelle@action3news.com
