A NEWPORT man says he was stung 37 times by large European hornets.

David Williams-Jones, of Bassaleg, said he recognised the creatures from yesterday's Argus as being the type which had stung him after he had accidentally stood on a nest.

The 42-year-old said he was attacked by 'thousands' of the super-wasps last month.

Mr Williams-Jones said he had stepped on a nest and was then immediately swarmed by the hornets, which repeatedly stung him.

He said: “My son began running and thankfully got away, but I was attacked by a swarm of hornets that kept stinging me despite me trying to flee.

“They could’ve killed my son if he hadn’t got away," he added.

The father said he now fears being attacked again and said he is still covered in marks left by the stings.

He said: “I have heard stories in the past where hornets have killed the young and the elderly, so I am incredibly thankful that my son managed to get away.

“Even weeks after the incident, the attack has left me traumatised and it has had a massive impact on my life as I sometimes have visions and nightmares of flying insects attacking me.”

Mr Williams-Jones said he wants to highlight how dangerous hornets can be following the Argus’ report about the two-inch long beasts that have been seen in Gwent in recent days.

He said: “My ordeal was complete and utter hell and I would hate for anyone to have to go through what I went through.

“To heal the wounds I sustained, I am regularly having sunbeds which seem to help with the redness.”

The incident occurred while Mr Williams-Jones was visiting Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Port Talbot with his 10-year-old son, Harvey.

A spokesman the reserve said the incident was not reported to them but but added that the nature reserve has a policy in place for dealing with such incidents.

A Bridgend County Borough Council spokesman said: “Kenfig National Nature Reserve is home to plenty of bees and wasps, but it would be a surprise to find European hornets living there as they prefer woodland environments and nesting in tree cavities. We’d encourage anyone who thinks they may have spotted one to contact us so we can investigate further.”