A woman was in critical condition Monday, July 16, after she was stung hundreds of times by bees in Lake Forest, and two firefighters were hospitalized after also getting stung several times while trying to help her.

Firefighters found the woman, in her 50s, covered in bees, about 10:30 a.m., Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Tony Bommarito said. They sprayed the woman with a carbon-dioxide extinguisher after finding her outside a home in the 23000 block of Buckland Lane.

“Usually when there’s time, (the firefighters) are able to fully put on their gear,” he said. “But this time they just went in to try to get the bees off of her.”

Lake Forest Bee Swarm: Large bee hive within the bushes being removed by bee expert. pic.twitter.com/YanPJojx0S — OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) July 16, 2018

The victim was a housekeeper who had walked out to her vehicle to retrieve some cleaning items when she was stung by bees from a bee hive near the car. The woman was stung up to 200 times, primarily on her arms, neck and face, Bommarito said.

Late Monday, the OCFA said in a tweet that according to her son, the woman was doing better and was expected to survive.

Two firefighters were taken to a hospital to be treated for bee stings, with one given medication due to an allergic reaction. Both were released later in the day, and returned to work, Bommarito said.

Authorities found a large bee hive within bushes that was removed by a beekeeper.