A lottery player in Thailand is recovering in hospital after his quest for lucky numbers was thwarted by a horde of angry insects.

According to a recent report in the Buriram Times, a 54-year-old man is recovering in hospital after being stung by bees over 80 times on Tuesday. The man, identified only as Jai, was attacked by the angry swarm after an ill-advised inspection of a bees’ nest he believed held the key to his winning a lottery jackpot.

Jai’s friend, a man identified only as Samai, told the media outlet that, immediately prior to the attack, he and Jai had discussed an 80-centimeter-long (nearly three feet) bees’ nest that had taken root in the rafters of Jai’s house for over a year. Jai reportedly claimed that he’d done nothing to disturb the nest due to his belief that its presence was ‘auspicious’ and would bring him luck.

Impressed by the bees’ alleged ability to bestow good fortune, Jai’s ‘friend’ Samai suggested they climb up and inspect the nest to see if they could divine some lucky numbers that would allow them to win big in an upcoming lottery draw.