Fort Knox staff saves Antoinette Webb after beetle reaction — Antoinette Webb Fort Knox Story

Antoinette Webb, 44, had a severe allergic reaction last week at Fort Knox State Park after picking up a shiny green beetle, and park staff helped her before she was taken for emergency treatment. Webb was visiting with her 9-year-old twins, Ella and Jonah, when the reaction began.

Webb said, "A berry green, [most] beautiful beetle I’ve ever seen. And I just picked him up and I said, ‘Whoa, you’re so pretty.’ And within seconds, I felt burning through my body," describing the moment she picked up the insect. The beetle was identified as a six-spotted tiger beetle, and the reaction was described as a one in a million severe allergic reaction.

Fort Knox State Park gift shop

After the reaction started, Webb ran up a grassy hill to the park’s gift shop and collapsed in front of Dean Martin, the executive director of Friends of Fort Knox. Martin said Webb passed out because of a constricted airway and blue lips, and that she broke out in hives, was grabbing her throat, wheezing, and shaking.

Martin and his wife, Sherry, helped during the emergency. Martin said, "She’s lying there and I’m holding her hand and I’m talking to 9-1-1 and I’m holding her." He also gave Webb Benadryl before ambulance crews arrived, and Webb was later given four epinephrine shots at the hospital.

Dean Martin response

Martin’s quick response mattered because he was able to treat the situation immediately while waiting for emergency crews. The beetle was non-venomous, Martin said, adding, "It’s got six legs. It’s non-venomous, but it’s got these pinchers."

Webb returned to the scene 24 hours later with her children and thanked Martin. She said, "I was just bawling. Because of you, they have their mom today," and added, "I just started crying, like right now. When I saw him, I immediately — I knew I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him," as she spoke to him again.

Webb returns with twins

Webb also told Martin, "They acted fast, they knew exactly what to do. I’m just so grateful, I’m just so grateful. If you guys come to Fort Knox, just know that you will be taken care of and your children will be taken care of." For visitors, the park staff response left the clearest practical lesson in the case: at Fort Knox State Park, the first help came from the people already on site.