School Outing Turns to Terror as Grizzly Bear Attacks
A routine walk for a class of primary school children in Canada turned into a nightmare on Thursday when a grizzly bear launched a sudden attack. The incident, which occurred near the Acwsalcta School in Bella Coola, northwest of Vancouver, left 11 people injured, including pupils and their teachers.
Emergency services were scrambled to the scene, with Brian Twaites, a spokesman for Emergency Health Services, confirming that two ambulances and a helicopter were dispatched. Four patients required emergency medical treatment on-site before being transported to hospital. Of these, two were reported to be in a critical condition, while two others sustained serious injuries.
‘Running for His Life’: A Mother’s Harrowing Account
The human impact of the attack was vividly described by Veronica Schooner, whose 10-year-old son, Alvarez, was part of the Year 4-5 class. She revealed that her son was so close to the animal ‘he even felt its fur’. ‘He was running for his life,’ Ms Schooner told local media, describing the terrifying ordeal.
She recounted the bravery of those who tried to halt the assault, noting that one male teacher ‘got the whole brunt of it’ and was among those airlifted from the area. Ms Schooner said her son was left ‘traumatised’ by the attack on his friends and confirmed that three children were believed to be among those with major injuries, though official confirmation of the victims' ages is still pending.
When she picked up Alvarez, he was ‘in shock’, and his shoes were covered in mud from his desperate escape. ‘Everybody was in shock at the school. A lot of people were crying,’ she added, capturing the scene of distress.
Community on Lockdown as Search for Bear Continues
In the aftermath, authorities in Bella Coola issued a stark warning on Thursday evening, stating that the ‘aggressive bear’ remained on the loose. Police and conservation officers, who were described as being armed, were deployed to the area. The local First Nation community used social media to urge residents to ‘Remain indoors and off the highway’.
Ms Schooner also reported that some community members had taken it upon themselves to guard roads around the vicinity. The Acwsalcta School announced it would be closed on Friday due to the traumatic event, expressing gratitude for its team and students in a Facebook post.
Jayme Kennedy, the chair of the Central Coast Regional District, released a statement offering ‘heartfelt support to the Nuxalk Nation’ and all those affected. ‘We are all feeling devastation as we try to understand the magnitude of the attack,’ she said, pledging the district’s support.
