Grizzly Bear Attack Leaves School Group in Terror
A terrifying grizzly bear attack on a group of primary school children and their teachers in Bella Coola, British Columbia, has left 11 people injured, with four reported to be in a serious condition in hospital. The bear responsible for the savage assault remains at large, prompting an urgent 'stay indoors' warning for local residents.
Teacher Takes Full Brunt of the Attack
The horrifying incident occurred just before 2pm local time on Thursday during a walk. According to reports, a male teacher bravely attempted to halt the bear's charge and, in doing so, took the full brunt of the attack, suffering severe injuries. Veronica Schooner, whose 10-year-old son Alvarez was part of the Year 4-5 class, described the teacher's heroic actions, stating he "got the whole brunt of it" from the ferocious animal.
Her son, Alvarez, was traumatised by the event. "He said that bear ran so close to him, he even felt its fur," Ms Schooner recounted. "But it was going after somebody else. He was running for his life." She described the scene at the school afterwards as one of shock, with many people crying.
Massive Hunt Underway as Danger Persists
As of Monday, the bear had still not been captured despite a massive search operation. The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service has deployed additional officers and is using a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Air Services helicopter equipped with thermal imaging cameras to track the animal. Traps and cameras have also been set up in the area.
Conservation officers are also attempting to locate and capture two other bears spotted nearby at the time of the attack. Any bears captured will be DNA tested to confirm their involvement before a decision on their fate is made.
Conservation Officer Service Inspector Kevin Van Damme has issued a stern warning, stressing the extreme danger of the situation. "I really need to stress how dangerous this situation is with this bear at large," he said. He urgently advised locals to avoid the area, remain indoors, and only travel by vehicle until further notice, emphasising that it is a "fluid and dangerous situation."
