One man found himself in the hospital after participating in a ritual that involved multiple ant stings, and the outcome was predictable.
Exploring new cultural practices can be incredibly rewarding and intriguing, yet this is one tradition I would choose to avoid…
Australian comedians Hamish and Andy have engaged in numerous bizarre adventures over the years, but one incident is particularly memorable when Hamish volunteered to be stung by ants.
The Sateré-Mawé community, residing deep within the Amazon, has a challenging coming-of-age ceremony that tests both physical and mental endurance.
National Geographic explains that boys as young as 12 must don gloves packed with bullet ants for 10 minutes while dancing as the ants deliver multiple stings.
Hamish attempted this ritual, which he likely now wishes he hadn’t.
In a 2014 YouTube video documenting the event, his immediate screams as the ants stung him were accompanied by a range of reactions.
The Sateré-Mawé instructed him to simply dance through the intense pain.
View it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it0V7xv9qu0
While Hamish’s response might seem exaggerated, it is entirely justified considering the potency of bullet ant stings.
Named for their sting’s sensation, which is likened to a bullet wound, bullet ants deliver the most painful insect sting known to humans.
Some regions refer to them as 24-hour ants due to the prolonged pain duration following a sting.
Their sting is reportedly 30 times more painful than a bee sting and is regarded by some as the most excruciating experience possible for a person.
Andy humorously recounted how Hamish reacted during the ceremony, and it appeared as painful as it seemed.
Hamish experienced six distinct stages:
Ultimately, Hamish ended up in the hospital, requiring an hour-long journey to reach the nearest medical facility.
Eight hours after the stings, Hamish described the ordeal as ‘unbelievable,’ yet his agonized expression conveyed more than words ever could.