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Man Leaps onto Polar Bear to Defend His Wife in Northern Canada
Police say a man in Canada’s far north is recovering from injuries sustained when he jumped atop a polar bear to protect his wife from mauling.
The incident occurred at Fort Severn First Nations, a small community of approximately 400 people in far northern Ontario.
The nameless man was seriously injured but is likely to recover, according to a First Nations police officer.
On Tuesday, about 05:00 local time (11:00 GMT), the couple exited their house to find their dogs, when a bear on the driveway sprang at the man’s wife. He instantly jumped onto a polar bear to defend his wife from getting mauled.
“The woman slipped to the ground as her husband leapt onto the animal to prevent its attack,” police said in a statement. “The bear then attacked the man, causing serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and legs.”
A neighbour arrived with a rifle and shot the bear multiple times. It retreated into the neighbouring woods, where it perished from its injuries.
He was later was transferred to a community nursing station and treated for his injuries.
Police stated they “continued to patrol the area to ensure there were no other bears roaming the community.”
According to Alysa McCall, a scientist with Polar Bear International, polar bears rarely attack humans.
When an attack occurs, the bear is frequently hungry, young, and ill, she explained. Normally, bears avoid human towns and prefer to hunt ice seals at sea.
“If you’re attacked by a polar bear, definitely do not play dead — that is a myth, “you fight as long as you can.”
According to Wikipedia, Fort Severn First Nation is a Western Swampy Cree First Nation band government located on the Severn River near Hudson Bay. It is the most northern community in Ontario, Canada. In 2001, the population was 401, consisting of 90 families in an area of 40 square kilometres.
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