Indian billionaire Sunjay Kapur, a friend of Prince William, passed away from a sudden heart attack on June 12, 2025, while participating in a polo match. The news of his passing was announced on the X account of Sona Comstar, a global mobility tech company where he held the position of chairman and non-executive director.
According to The Mirror, Kapur’s heart attack occurred shortly after being stung by a bee inside his mouth. A family source informed the outlet that the 53-year-old had been in “excellent” health prior to the incident.
Some reports claim he informed an umpire that he was choking, while others suggest he was stung by a bee. It remains unclear whether the bee sting or subsequent choking led to the heart attack. Medical professionals told NDTV that although the majority of individuals would experience a minor allergic reaction to a bee sting, it’s plausible that an allergic reaction could have triggered the heart attack. This is because some allergic reactions can lead to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition.
Why a bee sting may be life-threatening
When a bee approaches, the instinctive reaction is to swat it away or move aside. Bees may be attracted to you if they mistake your sunscreen, shiny accessories, or patterned clothing for a flower. If you’re not cautious, a bee may land on you and sting. The sharp pain is unmistakable, but for some, it could necessitate a trip to the emergency room.
Approximately 2 million people in the United States are allergic to bees, as per Boston Children’s Hospital. A bee sting allergy can result in hives, itching, or swelling at the sting site, but in more severe cases, it can lead to anaphylaxis. This life-threatening condition can cause throat swelling, trigger irregular heartbeats, lead to dangerously low blood pressure, or even result in heart failure.
(Here are unexpected anaphylaxis triggers.)
Board-certified allergist Zachary Rubin, M.D., explained on Instagram that while Kapur’s bee sting-related heart attack was rare, there are three possible explanations. Firstly, individuals with underlying heart conditions might panic due to the sting’s pain, causing a surge of adrenaline that could trigger a heart arrhythmia leading to a heart attack. Secondly, Rubin suggested that Kapur might have experienced anaphylactic shock, redirecting blood flow away from vital organs like the heart, depriving them of oxygen and potentially causing a heart attack. Lastly, he mentioned an allergy-related heart attack known as Kounis syndrome, where exposure to an allergen causes the coronary arteries to constrict, cutting off oxygen to the heart.
Swallowed or not, a bee sting can be dangerous
A bee sting doesn’t need to occur in the mouth to be fatal. A 2022 article in Clinical Case Reports described a 42-year-old man stung multiple times on areas including his neck and leg. He had a known bee allergy, smoked cigarettes, and had a history of opium use disorder. Despite experiencing allergic symptoms like vomiting, hives, and chest pain, he refused hospital care. About an hour after the stings, he went into anaphylactic shock, experiencing low blood pressure and difficulty breathing. Soon after, he died of cardiac arrest.
(Here’s how to treat a bee sting.)
Swallowing a bee doesn’t necessarily lead to a heart attack. In 2022, Canadian politician Doug Ford became viral when he accidentally swallowed a bee during a live press conference. While speaking, the bee flew into his mouth. Though he attempted to expel it, it had already gone down his throat. After taking a sip of water, he joked, “I’m good. He’s buzzing around here (pointing to his stomach) right now,” then continued with his press event (via CityNews on YouTube).
