Eleven Injured in Terrifying Grizzly Bear Mauling
A group of schoolchildren and their teachers were subjected to a terrifying attack by a grizzly bear on a walking trail in British Columbia, Canada, late on Thursday. The incident, which occurred in the remote community of Bella Coola, approximately 435 miles (700km) north-west of Vancouver, left eleven people injured, with two reported to be in a critical condition.
Aggressive Bear Still on the Loose
According to the Nuxalk Nation, the "aggressive bear" remains on the loose in the area. Police and conservation officers are actively searching for the animal and are armed. The First Nation issued a stark warning on social media, urging residents to "Remain indoors and off the highway." The attack took place on a trail near the Acwsalcta school, an independent institution run by the Nuxalk First Nation.
Brian Twaites, a spokesperson for the emergency health services, confirmed the severity of the injuries. Two people were critically hurt and a further two sustained serious injuries. The remaining victims were treated at the scene for their wounds.
Teacher Bears Brunt of the Attack
Veronica Schooner, the parent of a ten-year-old boy named Alvarez who was part of the group, provided harrowing details of the encounter. She recounted that while many people tried to intervene, one male teacher "got the whole brunt of it" and was among those who had to be airlifted from the scene by helicopter.
Her son, Alvarez, was in the class of fourth- and fifth-graders and had an incredibly close call. "He even felt its fur," Schooner revealed, explaining that the bear ran so close to him but was focused on pursuing another individual. In the chaos as teachers fought to fend off the bear, some children were inadvertently hit with bear spray. Alvarez was left limping with muddy shoes from his desperate run to safety. Despite his own ordeal, his immediate concern was for his friends, with his mother noting, "He keeps crying for his friends, and oh my goodness, right away he started praying for his friends."
In response to the traumatic event, the Acwsalcta school announced on Facebook that it would be closed on Friday. The school also confirmed that counselling services would be made available to support students and staff, stating, "It’s hard to know what to say during this very difficult time. We are so grateful for our team and our students."
