A massive grizzly bear attacked a group of primary school children and teachers in Bella Coola, British Columbia, Canada, causing four individuals to be hospitalized and seven others to receive on-site treatment. The incident occurred just before 2pm on Thursday, with pupils fleeing in fear as the bear suddenly appeared.
Veronica Schooner shared that her 10-year-old son was part of the class that was attacked during a walk, with him being so close to the bear that he could feel its fur. The boy recounted running for his life as the terrifying encounter unfolded.
Reports indicate that a male teacher courageously tried to stop the bear and was among those who sustained severe injuries. Schooner described how the teacher bore the brunt of the attack from the aggressive animal.
Following the traumatic event, Schooner mentioned that her son was deeply affected, feeling traumatized by the close encounter with the bear. She recounted his description of the bear running close to him while targeting someone else.
As of Monday, the bear remains at large, prompting the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service to deploy additional officers for assistance in the search. Efforts are also underway to locate and capture two other bears observed in the vicinity during the attack.
Inspector Kevin Van Damme of the Conservation Officer Service advised locals to steer clear of the area, stay indoors, and use vehicles for travel until further notice due to the ongoing danger posed by the unrestrained bear. A helicopter equipped with thermal imaging cameras and various traps and cameras have been deployed to aid in locating and capturing the bears. DNA testing will be conducted on captured bears to confirm their involvement in the attack before determining the next course of action.