A toddler was stung to death by a swarm of crazed wasps while playing with his friends in northeastern Thailand.

Narathip, also known as Akhin, 2, was riding a bike with other kids near an abandoned rice mill when a cloud of the territorial insects descended on them in Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday.

The other children managed to pedal away, but Narathip with his short legs failed to make it very far. He fell over from his bike as dozens of wasps divebombed him.

The youngsters rushed to alert his father, who then raced out onto the street where he found his son lying on the ground.

The brave parent charged into the wasp swarm, gritting as he soldiered through the painful stings to carry his son to safety.

Both were rushed to the Bua Yai Hospital, but Narathip tragically died six hours later. Doctors said he died of a severe allergic reaction as the stings caused a rapid heart rate, acute kidney failure, and 'cardiac system failure'.

The boy's father remains in critical condition.

Local authorities later led exterminators to burn the wasp hive, hanging under a metal structure in the rice mill's yard.

Pitakpong Sirisak, a member of the Provincial Council, said: 'Since the incident, I've received more than 10 calls to destroy wasp nests and we've already coordinated with rescuers to remove four of them. I urge residents to carefully check their homes as well as nearby trees and electric poles for wasp nests.

'If you spot a newly made nest, destroy it right away. But if it's already fully developed, don't risk it andjust report it to the authorities for safe removal.'

Wasp stings can be fatal, especially in individuals who are allergic, with death typically resulting from anaphylactic shock, a severe, rapid allergic reaction that can cause airway swelling and cardiac arrest.

Even in non-allergic individuals, multiple stings from aggressive species can lead to toxic reactions and organ failure.