Wilson County deputy dies after a swarm of wasp stings

WILSON, NC (WTVD) -- A Wilson County Sheriff's Office deputy has died after an attack by a swarm of wasps.

Law enforcement sources say Lt. Ray "Bull" Tomlinson passed away Friday morning.

Family members say he was helping someone load a a piece of machinery in Wilson. When the men raised part of the equipment they disturbed a wasp nest.

Tomlinson swatted a wasp after he was stung on the head. The wasps then swarmed his legs. The men sprayed Tomlinson's legs with brake cleaner to kill the wasps, which seemed to work, according to his family.

The men continued to work until Tomlinson collapsed.

Tomlinson died at Wilson Medical Center from cardiac arrest. He was 44 years old.

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