Video: Golf Course Groundskeeper Dies After Being Stung By Bees In Arizona

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A groundskeeper of an Arizona golf course has passed away after suffering bee stings from a swarm passing through the area.

The news of 57-year-old Rick Messina's death was made public when a message was sent out to members of the golf club on July 3, according to KOLD-TV. According to the message, Messina was working on the eighth hole of Pusch Ridge Course in Oro Valley on the morning of June 24 when he was stung by a swarm of bees.

Messina was quickly rushed to the hospital before passing away three days later.

"Rick was a dedicated and cherished member of our team, known for his exceptional work ethic, positive attitude, and unwavering commitment to his duties," the message to the club's membership reportedly read. "His sudden passing is a profound loss to our work family and our community. He will be deeply missed by all."

Following the incident, the golf club brought in professional beekeepers, but after inspecting each of the 45 holes on the property, they could not find any bee activity.

The town of Oro Valley claimed that the delay between the accident and the announcement of Messina's passing was caused by a holiday weekend. 

Oro Valley also shared a statement reminding all citizens to be mindful of wildlife and venomous creatures in the region, which is certainly sound advice. The golf course reportedly put up a number of signs around the property reminding golfers of potentially dangerous wildlife in the area as well.

In May, a swarm of bees at Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field in Phoenix delayed a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers by nearly two hours before a beekeeper was called to take care of the swarm. He was given the honor of throwing out the first pitch after his stint with the bees.

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Mark covers all sports at OutKick while keeping a close eye on the world of professional golf. He graduated from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before earning his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. He somehow survived living in Knoxville despite ‘Rocky Top’ being his least favorite song ever written. Before joining OutKick, he wrote for various outlets including SB Nation, The Spun, and BroBible. Mark was also a writer for the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate in 2016 when the team won the World Series. He's still waiting for his championship ring to arrive. Follow him on Twitter @itismarkharris.