This hiker was stung by bees over 100 times. Here’s what it does to your body.

A north Phoenix hiker was brought to safety after being stung more than 100 times by bees. The attack was so severe that he was physically unable to walk from the mountain.

According to the Phoenix Fire Department, the incident happened near the summit of Lookout Mountain Preserve late Saturday morning. When rescuers arrived, the guy was physically unable to get down under his own power. Emergency crews from Phoenix and Glendale had to coordinate a helicopter to lift him to safety before transferring him to an ambulance at the trailhead so he could be taken to a hospital while he was in critical condition.

Since the late 1990s, Arizona has had a notoriously aggressive bee population, particularly Africanized bees. These are particularly aggressive, persistent bees that swarm, coordinate and keep stinging. You’ll start out plagued by one or two, which quickly turn into a full cloud of bees attacking you with righteous fury.

This hiker took 100 plus bee stings. Here’s what it can do to a person.

With that amount of plugs, you don’t just worry about allergic reactions anymore. In high concentrations, bee venom becomes systemically toxic. It can break down muscle tissue, stress the kidneys and send the body into shock. In other words, pretty much exactly what this poor hiker went through when he had been stung to the point where he was essentially exhibiting signs closer to poisoning than the average bee sting.

Officials say the increased bee activity may be due to warmer seasonal conditions, which have prolonged foraging and defensive behavior. If you’re in Arizona and don’t want to be stung into oblivion, experts suggest avoiding wearing scented products and wearing light-colored clothing. It’s also kind of a no-brainer, but stay away from hives. If you do all that and you’re still being chased by a swarm, run.

Run and protect your face. Just keep running as fast as you can.