Swarm of bees leaves three people hospitalized, one dog dead in East County

LEMON GROVE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Three people were sent to the hospital and one dog is dead after a swarm of bees took over a Lemon Grove backyard Wednesday.

"I opened the door and the air is thick with bees. I looked at my right and my dog Kona is already on the floor, panting," Tiffany Ahmu said.

Ahmu described the scene that unfolded in her family’s backyard Wednesday afternoon around 2:30 p.m.  She says her kids and family friends were in the pool when the swarm of bees arrived. As everyone tried to run inside to safety, Ahmu went to rescue their beloved family dog.

"Kona is covered. I couldn’t even see her coat. I pick her up. She’s already limp. She’s still breathing, but limp, I jump to the pool to dust the bees off and I'm covered in bees."

In the process, Ahmu says she was overwhelmd by bees and stung several times herself. She spoke with us Wednesday evening over the phone from the hospital.

"I was calling 911 the whole time and they kept repeating themselves 'we don’t come for a bee sting ma’am call an exterminator' and I’m telling them I'm not exaggerating. There are not one or two bees. I am in a blanket of bees. I need help, my skin is burning, please help."

Two other kids were stung about two to three times and taken to the hospital as well, but quickly released. The other family dog was stung once.

Ahmu’s father Jose Hernandez came home and immediately helped take Kona, the 12-year-old boxer, to an animal urgent care, but she did not make it. Kona was a rescue and a registered emotional support dog.

"Twelve, but had Peter Pan Syndrome. The joke means she never grows up. She was so spunky, still super active and hyper," Ahmu said.

Heartland Fire & Rescue helped respond and try to clear the bees from the area, but no one knows where they came from.

"This is just something freaky. I guess nobody knows what to do until it happens to you," Hernandez said.

Ahmu was home from the hospital by Wednesday evening and continuing to recover.