Canada – Canada was shaken by a horrific attack on a group of schoolchildren on Thursday in a remote rural area of British Columbia. A large bear attacked them, injuring 11 people, including children. Canadian media reported that two of the injured were in critical condition.
Serious injuries and ongoing search efforts for the bear
The incident occurred early Thursday afternoon on a footpath in the Bella Coola area, about 700 kilometers northwest of Vancouver.
The Canadian Press confirmed that the initial count of injuries included 11 people, two of whom were in critical condition and two others in serious condition. While emergency services did not specify the ages of the victims, the injuries were concentrated among a group of schoolchildren.
The mother of one of the injured children, a ten-year-old, told the Canadian Press that her son got so close to the animal that he felt its fur before running away in terror.
The teacher sacrifices to save the students
Veronica Sonner, the child’s mother, indicated that one of the teachers accompanying the group intervened to try to fend off the bear. However, he was seriously injured during this attempt. The teacher was immediately airlifted to the hospital for treatment.
Emergency services in Nuxalk reported a “hostile bear” in the area. As of this morning, the animal has not been found, increasing concern among residents.
Call to stay home
Nuxalk Nation, via social media, urged all residents to exercise extreme caution. They asked them to stay indoors and avoid the highway near the crash site. The students attended Axalkta School, an independent school in the area.
It is worth noting that bears, especially grizzly bears, are known to be particularly aggressive during this time of year. They are trying to store fat before entering hibernation, which usually lasts from November to April or May.
