A school has commended the bravery of heroic teachers and the resilience of students involved in a terrifying bear attack that resulted in two individuals fighting for their lives and several others sustaining injuries.
The incident occurred as a large predator approached a group of pupils and educators on a hiking trail in Bella Coola, a community in Canada’s British Columbia. The BC Emergency Health Services received a report of an “animal attack” at the hiking trail near Highway 20 around 1:46 pm on November 20.
Upon arrival at the scene, emergency responders found nearly a dozen individuals with injuries, some of whom were swiftly taken to hospitals with critical and severe wounds. According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, four people were hospitalized, with two in critical condition and two seriously injured. The group involved in the incident was from the Acwsalcta School, an independent institution operated by the native Nuxalk Nation of Bella Coola.
In a Facebook post, the school announced its closure for the day due to the bear encounter and lauded the courage and resilience of the teachers and students. The statement expressed gratitude to the staff for their prompt actions, calm leadership, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding and assisting the students. It also praised the students for their mutual support, attentiveness to instructions, and unity as a community.
Veronica Schooner, a mother, shared that her son Alvarez, who was present during the attack, was forced to run for safety. She recounted the harrowing experience where the bear came so close that her son could feel its fur, leaving him in a state of shock. She emphasized the emotional turmoil witnessed during the incident, with many individuals in tears as she hurriedly took her son home.
Following the attack, the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service confirmed the involvement of a grizzly bear, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police also present at the scene. Residents were advised to avoid the forested and river area where the attack occurred until further notice, with no specific details provided about the victims. Witnesses reported attempts to intervene, with a male teacher bearing the brunt of the attack and being airlifted via helicopter.
The Nuxalk Nation cautioned residents about the presence of the aggressive bear in the area and urged people to remain indoors for safety.
