A woman in her 70s has died after being attacked by a swarm of bees in Co Mayo.
The deceased woman was tending to a number of hives in the Ballycastle area with her husband when the incident occurred at around 5pm yesterday.
She sustained multiple stings and took ill at the scene.
The Rescue 118 Irish Coast Guard helicopter was deployed to assist the casualty but the woman subsequently died at Sligo University Hospital.
A number of other people were also badly stung as they attempted to ward off the bees.
One person was taken to hospital in Castlebar for further treatment but was discharged a short time later.
It is understood the deceased woman was from the north Mayo area and aged in her early 70s.
She was helping to collect honey from the hives when the swarm attacked.
A post-mortem examination is to be carried out to determine the cause of death and a file will be prepared for the local coroner in due course.
Beekeepers say that fatalities arising from such work are very rare but in some cases people can have severe allergic reactions to stings.
Bees can be more protective in poorer weather conditions and more easily agitated when their crop is removed from a hive.