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An incident involving a grizzly bear resulted in the attack of a group of schoolchildren and their teachers on a hiking trail in British Columbia, Canada, leaving 11 individuals injured, with two in critical condition.
The attack occurred on Thursday afternoon in the Bella Coola area, situated 700 kilometers (approximately 435 miles) northwest of Vancouver. According to the Nuxalk Nation, the “aggressive bear” was still at large as of Thursday evening. Law enforcement and conservation officials were actively present at the scene.
“Officers are armed. Please stay indoors and avoid the highway,” advised the First Nation through a social media alert.
Emergency Health Services spokesperson Brian Twaites reported that two people sustained critical injuries, while two others suffered serious harm. The remaining victims received medical attention at the site.
Two people were critically injured and two had serious injuries, Emergency Health Services spokesman Brian Twaites said. The others were treated at the scene.
Parent Veronica Schooner said a lot of people tried to halt the attack but one male teacher “got the whole brunt of it” and was among the people taken by helicopter from the scene.
Schooner’s 10-year-old son Alvarez was in the class of fourth- and fifth-graders that was attacked and was so close to the animal “he even felt its fur,” she said.
“He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else,” Schooner said.
She added that some children were hit with bear spray as the teachers fought off the bear and Alvarez was limping and his shoes muddy from running for safety. Her son’s thoughts, however, were with his classmates.
“He keeps crying for his friends, and oh my goodness, right away he started praying for his friends,” she added.
Acwsalcta School, an independent school run by Nuxalk First Nation in Bella Coola, said in a Facebook post that the school will be closed on Friday and counseling made available.
“It’s hard to know what to say during this very difficult time. We are so grateful for our team and our students,” the post said.
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