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Safford boy stung more than 400 times by bees, recovering in Phoenix hospital

Posted at 7:47 PM, Feb 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-22 21:47:11-05

Andrew Kunz, 11, is swollen and covered in red bites. His family says he's just lucky to be alive.

"He called me and he was crying. He was saying the bees are killing me the bees are killing me," said Petrea Kunz, the boy’s grandmother.

Kunz told ABC15 her grandson went to shoot his BB gun with a friend Monday out in the desert. Somehow, the boy missed his target and hit a hive. The two ran as bees began to chase the pair; however, Andrew fell down and could only use his cellphone to call for help.

Graham County Sheriff’s Office, Safford Police and Safford Fire rushed to the scene to help the boy. That includes Fire Chief Clark Bingham, who rushed into the gully to pick up Andrew, despite his own allergies.

"There was a missing 11-year old-boy and they couldn't find him. So in my mind I'm thinking I know where this kid is at he's with the bees," Bingham said.

Andrew was airlifted to PCH. His family is waiting for tests to show that toxin levels are down so the boy can be discharged.