Texas worker, 4 firefighters attacked by swarm of bees

Emergency medical personnel tend to a man attacked by a swarm of bees Thursday morning, July 24, 2014, at Weeks Park in Wichita Falls, Texas. At least three members of a tractor mowing crew received multiple stings in the attack along Holliday Creek. (AP Photo/Wichita Falls Times Record News, Torin Halsey) less Emergency medical personnel tend to a man attacked by a swarm of bees Thursday morning, July 24, 2014, at Weeks Park in Wichita Falls, Texas. At least three members of a tractor mowing crew received multiple ... more Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Texas worker, 4 firefighters attacked by swarm of bees 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

WICHITA FALLS — A North Texas street department worker has been stung about 500 times by aggressive bees that also attacked four firefighters sent to help him.

Wichita Falls city officials blamed Thursday's attack on Africanized honey bees.

Spokesman Barry Levy says a worker was attacked while mowing grass along culverts near the Weeks Park Tennis Center. Levy says the man was transported to a Wichita Falls hospital. His name and condition weren't immediately released.

Levy says four firefighters who responded also were stung. Levy says three of the firefighters were transported to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.The tennis center, a nearby trail and part of a golf course have been closed until emergency personnel confirm the bees are gone.Further details weren't immediately available.

This is an AP Exhange story that originally appeared in the Longview News-Journal.