Tree caretaker Thom, 30, was attacked by Asian hornets last week while pruning a tree in Tilburg and was stung more than 30 times. A month earlier, another tree caretaker was attacked during work in Vught, jumped from his mobile elevating work platform and suffered multiple fractures. The attack was described as nearly fatal in the earlier account.

Experts said the number of Asian hornet nests in the Netherlands is increasing, raising the chance of people coming into contact with the insects.