Jochen Goetz, CFO of truck manufacturer Daimler Truck, has passed away at the age of 52, his employer has confirmed. According to the German newspaper Bild an allergic reaction to a wasp sting killed him.
Goetz passed away last Saturday, completely unexpectedly. The German company confirmed the death of the CEO, but did not give a cause of death. “In close consultation and with due regard for the family, we want to stick to a tragic accident,” said spokesman Jörg Howe.
Bild learned “from well-informed circles” that a wasp sting would have killed the top man. “From his environment we were told that he often had an emergency kit against wasp stings with him,” said the newspaper. “However, it is unclear whether he also had that package within reach on Saturday.”
In Germany, about 3 to 3.5 percent of all residents are allergic to wasp or bee venom. After a sting, their bodies release more histamine, causing blood vessels to expand and vital organs to be deprived of oxygen.
For the time being, it is not known how many people at Daimler Truck were aware of Goetz’s allergy. “He was a Daimler man with heart and soul,” said CEO Martin Daum. “He made the company what it is today.”