Dan Bigley, a man attacked by a bear, vividly remembers the terrifying moment before the bear crushed his skull, causing him to lose consciousness. The bear dragged Dan into the bushes, where it repeatedly bit his head with its sharp teeth, cracking his skull but miraculously avoiding penetration into his brain.
Although Dan survived the attack, he lost his sight. Nearly two decades later, he shared the harrowing experience of that life-altering moment, recalling the chilling noise he heard just before he believed his life was ending.
During a walk in the forest in Alaska with his friend Jana after a day of fishing, Dan encountered the bear. The massive brown bear, a common sight in coastal Alaska, was notably agitated and aggressive, unlike any bear Dan had faced before. As they tried to retreat, the bear attacked, swiping at Dan.
Unbeknownst to them, the bear was protecting her cubs hidden in the nearby bushes. In a desperate attempt to escape, Dan leaped towards the bushes but was caught by the bear and viciously mauled.
Dan vividly remembers the distressing screams he heard during the attack, realizing they were coming from him. The bear sank its teeth into his head, causing him to pass out intermittently during the brutal mauling.
After the bear left, mistakenly believing Dan was dead, Jana and local fishermen tended to him until emergency services arrived. Dan suffered severe injuries, with several vital arteries severed, and was initially in critical condition. Following extensive surgery and a medically-induced coma, Dan began the long journey of recovery.
Haunted by the traumatic incident, Dan reflected on the lasting impact it had on him. Despite the challenges, he found solace in sharing his story and co-authoring a book, “Beyond the Bear: How I Learned to Live and Love Again after Being Blinded by a Bear,” in 2013.
Living in Anchorage with his family, Dan emphasized the healing power of time, therapy, and personal growth in overcoming the trauma. He expressed how his disability has diminished as his life expanded, highlighting the importance of moving forward from the bear attack towards a fulfilling and positive life.
