A lumberjack was stung to death by a swarm of hornets while cutting down the tree hosting their nest in a Croatian forest, a report said on Friday.

Mile Sulentic, 50, was attacked by the angry insects after felling the tree near the town of Kapelica, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of the capital Zagreb, the daily Vecernji List said.

"The whole swarm was restless and attacked the woodcutter," the report quoted the forest's owner, Slavko Zabic, as saying.

"I immediately called emergency services and brought him water, but he could not talk or drink," he said.

A doctor who arrived on the scene within minutes said the man had already died before he could do anything to treat him.