Calvin Robinson was lying face down in the ditch, his body covered by hundreds of bees when Officer Enrique Diaz arrived on Oak Street in Refugio last Thursday evening just after 7 p.m.

The life-long Refugio man was cutting grass on the grounds of the Cozy Palace using a riding lawnmower when the bees attacked. His good deed for his first cousin Ann Gray turned into a battle for his life. Miraculously, the 84-year-old heart patient not only survived the attack but had the where-with-all to cover important parts of his body.

“I had made about three rounds when a bee stung me on my head,” Robinson said. “I swatted at it but noticed more flying around. I got off the mower to get away but the bees was got worse.”

A swarm of bees attacked as he retreated.

“I called for help and dropped to the ground and rolled a few times to get them off me,” he said.

But the bees were persistent, so Robinson got up and began to run again but only got about 15 feet to the ditch when he was overcome. Exhausted, he waited for help.

“I put my face down to it protect it with my hands,” he said. “I had to give up the back of my neck to protect my face and keep them out of my mouth. They kept trying to get into my mouth. I knew if they did, that was it.”

Gray came outside to help Robinson but the bees attacked her as well.

“I had just got off from work and heard screaming,” said Valencia Scott, a neighbor. “I was being nosy and started walking that way to find out about the screaming and I saw Ann covered in bees. I called 911 and told them to please come help her. As I was walking that way, she fell down. I was still on the phone with 911.”

Valencia ran toward the injured woman with her little girl on her hip but was stung as well. That’s when she saw Mr. Robinson in the ditch and realized the gravity of the situation. She retreated for the safety of her daughter and ended up at the hospital for treatment of bee stings.

In the meantime, Terrance DuBose had grabbed Elaine Moore’s water hose in an attempt to spray the bees off Patricia Gray.

Moore said their efforts were futile. The fire department was on the way.

Diaz grabbed his duty jacket, thinking he could knock the bees off and pull Robinson to safety. Three times Diaz was attacked and retreated.

A halo-flight helicopter was launched; the prognosis for Robinson looked grim.

When paramedics arrived, a two technician left the safety of the van to rescue the injured man. Robinson said he never lost consciousness during the onslaught. Mark Kenne rescued Robinson and Roberta Fagan pulled Gray to safety.

“I sure wish I knew the name of the tall, slim paramedic that pulled me inside the van,” Robinson said. “I’d like to thank him.”

Robinson was treated at Memorial Hospital. More than 300 stingers were removed. Because of his heart condition, he was transferred to a hospital in Victoria. By Monday afternoon, he was back at home in Refugio.

“I know about bees,” he said. “My father was a bee keeper. He was particular about what plants and what weeds grew around our home. He used to go out and pull those that would make the honey bitter. I was raised around bees so I’ve never been afraid of them.”

Robinson said he “spent 33 days on a respirator when he had a heart attack about 10 years ago.” Last Thursday, he beat the odds again. It wasn’t his time to go.

A religious man, Robinson said “I’m just blessed with the goodness of the Lord.”