'WASPS HAVE GOT ME' Killed cutting the grass.

Byline: LUCY THORNTON

A FARMER was killed by a swarm of wasps as he worked on his farm.

Mark Evison, 47, accidentally disturbed their nest while trimming grass for a neighbour - and was repeatedly stung on his head, neck and chest.

He staggered home and desperately phoned brother Paul, pleading: "The wasps have got me. I don't feel very well."

Paul, 50, raced round but Mark, who suffered a severe allergic reaction, lost consciousness. Paramedics later declared him dead at the scene - less than an hour after the attack.

He had been cutting grass by a stream in front of their homes when he disturbed the nest at head height. Paul who also works on the farm in Ellerker, East Yorks, said: "I had been at a friend's house in the village when Mark rang.

"I could hear stress in his usually calm voice. There was a little bit of panic, which by nature wasn't like Mark. I knew then it was bad.

"I shot round and found Mark sat on a chair. He told me, 'I don't feel very well'. His face was white. I said, 'Shall I get the doctor? He said, 'No, just let me sit here. I'll be fine in a minute'. That's the last thing he said to me.

"He fell unconscious and I rang 999. It was just typical of Mark he thought he didn't need a doctor and could deal with it himself."

By the time a 999 crew arrived, the farmer was already in the advanced stages of anaphylactic shock -a life-threatening allergic reaction. They gave him a shot of adrenaline but were unable to save him.

His brother said: "Paramedics were here in 10 minutes but Mark's lungs filled up with fluid. Then he slipped away.

"It was a quick death. He called me at 5.45pm and was dead by 6.30pm."

Unmarried Mark was allergic to wasps and survived a sting two years ago when he was given adrenalin in hospital.

His family spoke movingly of their grief at last Sunday's tragedy. Paul said: "We were very close. Mark wasn't married, I wasn't married and we looked up to one another.

"I couldn't believe that two hours before, he was alive and well and we had been laughing over what he was having for tea.

"It's very tragic. There's a huge hole in our lives. Half of me has died. Mark was my rock. I couldn't have wished for a better brother."

Mum Daisy Williamson, 72, who owns the farm, said: "He was a fun-loving lad. Nothing was trouble for him and he would do anything for anyone. I saw him every day and it will affect me dreadfully." Insect stings kill around four people a year in Britain.

CAPTION(S):

ALLERGIC REACTION Tragic Mark TRAGIC SCENE Ditch where he was attacked