A Buddhist monk was stung to death by a swarm of hornets while feeding wild animals in a forest in Thailand.

Luangta Uthai Ninthawat, 75, was found dead near the Wat Khao Kamphra temple in Lopburi, where he regularly ventured into the woodland to feed give food to stray dogs and squirrels.

He was last seen bringing a bowl of food leftovers before villagers discovered him lying face-up in the undergrowth with an aggressive cloud of crazed hornets still buzzing overhead on July 21.

Rescuers arrived at the scene at around 5:30 pm local time. However, they were unable to collect Luangta's body as the insects kept dive-bombing them.

Exterminators in protective gear had to be called to remove the hornet's nest before they could safely retrieve the monk's corpse.

Devotees cried upon seeing the hapless man's face swollen, his exposed limbs bearing dark purple bruises from the swarm's onslaught.

Village council leader Prayoon Chanchuen said: 'Before Luangta was stung, he would kindly share leftover food from his alms bowl with stray dogs, squirrels and chipmunks every day to care for the animals living in the trees surrounding the temple.

'Neither the monks nor the villagers knew there was a hornet nest nearby. He must have unknowingly walked too close so the hornets stung him to death.'

Forensic doctors said Luangta was stung more than 100 times all over his body.

Following the incident, local authorities, residents, and rescue teams burned down the nest and surveyed the area around the temple to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

The tragic hornet attack came two days after a toddler was stung to death by wasps in Nakhon Ratchasima.

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 him on July 19.

His father rushed into the swarm to save him. However, he died six hours later at the hospital while his father remains in critical condition.

Hornet attacks can be fatal especially if a person is stung numerous times or has an allergic reaction. The venom can cause severe pain, swelling, and can lead to organ failure and death if not treated promptly.