NEW RIVER, Ariz. -- A group of 15 people at a family barbeque near Phoenix got some uninvited -- and painful guests on Saturday when they were attacked by a swarm of bees.

"Next thing I know, the house was full of bees. E verybody was just yelling and shutting doors," said Lorrie Festa, of New River.

She said her husband, Lou, was stung 600 times. He was rushed to John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital in North Phoenix.

"I knew they were awfully aggressive. They were on the attack," said Don Vogelbacher. "They weren't just swarming around -- they were attacking the crowd."

The Daisy Mountain Fire Department had to use chain saws and foam to dismantle the hive. It was located just beneath a tree, buried into the side of a hill.

The family isn't sure what kind of bees attacked them, but they say there were thousands.

Even the family dog was stung.

"She ran out and she was covered with bees," said another family member.

David Vogelbacher said he was stung about six times.

"I kept hearing a bee around me, and then all sudden there were more and more," said Vogelbacher. "Before you know it, we were covered. We were grabbing them out of my hair."

Vogelbacher said he was stung a few days before at a nearby watering hole, but the New River man said he's never seen anything like this before.