A grandmother's heart-wrenching social media posts have revealed the devastating aftermath of a grizzly bear attack that injured eleven people, including children, during a school trip in Canada.
The Terrifying Attack in Bella Coola
The incident occurred on Thursday when a group of students and teachers from Acwsalcta School were walking in Bella Coola, northwest of Vancouver. The grizzly bear suddenly attacked the group, causing panic and multiple injuries.
Hzita Brown Mack confirmed on Facebook that her young granddaughter was among the victims, sharing photos of the child in hospital. 'My heart shattered to see what the bear had done to her little body,' Mack wrote emotionally.
The grandmother revealed that her granddaughter required approximately 100 stitches to close all her wounds before she could be safely transferred to another medical facility. She expressed gratitude to hospital staff for their care during the preparation for transfer.
Multiple Injuries and Traumatised Children
British Columbia Emergency Health Services reported that at least eleven people were injured in the attack, with two patients in critical condition and two others considered seriously injured.
Veronica Schooner shared the experience of her ten-year-old son, Alverez, who was in the elementary school class that was attacked. She posted a photo of his mud-soaked shoes, evidence of his desperate escape.
'Alverez grade 4/5 class got confronted by a grizzly today. I'm so glad Alvarez is ok. This is his shoes and he injured his ankle and had bear spray on his face,' Schooner wrote.
She told The Canadian Press that her son was so close to the animal that 'he even felt its fur' and 'he was running for his life.' The mother described how several people attempted to intervene during the ordeal, noting that one male teacher 'got the whole brunt of it' and was among those evacuated by helicopter.
Ongoing Search and School Closure
As of Thursday night, authorities confirmed that the bear remains on the loose. The Nuxalk Nation, which runs Acwsalcta School, warned residents about an 'aggressive bear' in the Four Mile subdivision, a forested and residential area in the Bella Coola Valley where the school is located.
'The bear has still not been found, so we ask that you do not walk anywhere tonight,' Nuxalk Nation wrote on social media, while offering rides for those who needed them.
Officials urgently warned people in the area to stay indoors and avoid trails. Police corporal Madonna Saunderson described the injuries sustained as 'very serious at the very least.'
Acwsalcta School announced it would be closed on Friday due to the 'bear incident' and confirmed it would offer counselling services to affected students and staff. The school acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating that 'it's hard to know what to say during this very difficult time.'
Schooner revealed that her son was left 'traumatised' by witnessing the attack on his friends, with three children among those suffering significant injuries. 'He said that the bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else,' she recounted.
The community remains on high alert as search efforts for the dangerous grizzly continue, while families support their children through the physical and emotional recovery from the terrifying wildlife encounter.
