A gruesome attack in Canada has left a trail of terror among schoolchildren and teachers on a walking trail, as a grizzly bear rampaged through a group of innocent youngsters, leaving 11 people injured, including two who are critically hurt.
The incident occurred in Bella Coola, British Columbia, approximately 700 kilometers northwest of Vancouver. Authorities were alerted to the presence of an "aggressive" bear that remained on the loose until Thursday evening, prompting police and conservation officers to be deployed to the scene.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as children were sprayed with bear spray by teachers in a desperate bid to fend off the marauding beast. One teacher was said to have borne the full force of the attack, while others managed to escape relatively unscathed.
"It's hard to know what to say during this very difficult time," an official from Acwsalcta School, which is run by the Nuxalk First Nation in Bella Coola, posted on Facebook, as the school announced that it would be closed on Friday and counseling services made available to its students.
Among those affected was 10-year-old Alvarez Schooner, who was among the fourth- and fifth-grade class attacked. He narrowly escaped with his life but was left limping and covered in mud after a frantic dash for safety. His mother Veronica described her son's harrowing experience, stating that he "keeps crying for his friends" while simultaneously expressing deep concern for the well-being of his classmates.
As authorities continue to monitor the situation, parents are being urged to remain indoors and stay away from highways. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the risks posed by wildlife encounters in Canada's vast wilderness areas.
The incident occurred in Bella Coola, British Columbia, approximately 700 kilometers northwest of Vancouver. Authorities were alerted to the presence of an "aggressive" bear that remained on the loose until Thursday evening, prompting police and conservation officers to be deployed to the scene.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as children were sprayed with bear spray by teachers in a desperate bid to fend off the marauding beast. One teacher was said to have borne the full force of the attack, while others managed to escape relatively unscathed.
"It's hard to know what to say during this very difficult time," an official from Acwsalcta School, which is run by the Nuxalk First Nation in Bella Coola, posted on Facebook, as the school announced that it would be closed on Friday and counseling services made available to its students.
Among those affected was 10-year-old Alvarez Schooner, who was among the fourth- and fifth-grade class attacked. He narrowly escaped with his life but was left limping and covered in mud after a frantic dash for safety. His mother Veronica described her son's harrowing experience, stating that he "keeps crying for his friends" while simultaneously expressing deep concern for the well-being of his classmates.
As authorities continue to monitor the situation, parents are being urged to remain indoors and stay away from highways. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the risks posed by wildlife encounters in Canada's vast wilderness areas.
this is seriously disturbing! who would've thought that something so savage could happen right under our noses? i'm literally shaking thinking about those little kids and teachers who were sprayed with bear spray and had to fend off a grizzly bear. it's just not okay, you know? 
the fact that one teacher got mauled and 11 people are injured is just heartbreaking. what's even more alarming is that this could've happened anywhere in Canada – we should be aware of our surroundings and take necessary precautions when venturing into the wilderness. i hope everyone who was affected gets the help they need, especially those two critically hurt kids 
. It's heartbreaking that 11 people were injured, including two critically hurt 
.
, who got to experience this traumatic event at such a young age 
. His mom's words about him crying for his friends are just devastating 
. It's crazy how fast things can turn deadly in the wilderness, and I guess that's why authorities have to take measures like deploying police and conservation officers to monitor the situation.
. It's always good to be reminded of the risks when exploring the great outdoors 
. Anyway, my thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the Acwsalcta School community 
. 
. It's wild to think that a school has to close down and offer counseling services just because of this one incident 
. Canada's wilderness areas can be so beautiful, but I guess they also come with some pretty serious risks 
hope everyone involved gets the help and support they need 
. what does it say about our society that these are the kind of things that happen? that nature is just so unpredictable and we're all just like tiny little specks trying to survive. and the worst part is those kids were just being their normal selves, learning and growing and living their lives, when suddenly this thing comes out of nowhere and changes everything in an instant 
... Like, how do people even find themselves in situations like this? 700 km northwest of Vancouver and you're still gonna get attacked by a bear? That's just wild 
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. And can we talk about how parents are being urged to stay indoors? Like, that's not exactly practical or safe 
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. Anyway, I hope everyone involved gets the help and support they need 
Come on, guys! You're a teacher, for crying out loud! Can't you just stay calm and figure out a plan to get the kids to safety? 
I know those kids were traumatized, but like, who's gonna teach 'em how to deal with this kind of thing in real life? 
The kid's mom said he "keeps crying for his friends"? That's so sad 
No way, José!
I'm still trying to process the sheer brutality of this bear attack on those innocent children. It's heart-wrenching to think about the trauma they must be going through, especially with one of them being critically hurt. The fact that a teacher had to endure the full force of the attack is just devastating... 
. We often take our safety and security for granted, but this incident shows us that even in the most unexpected moments, danger can lurk.
. It's a testament to the power of human courage and selflessness. So yeah, this is definitely a tough moment for everyone involved, but it's also a chance for us to learn and grow from it 
. But I guess that's not possible everywhere, and it's just one of those crazy things that can happen in nature. The good news is that everyone involved seems to be okay (mostly), so fingers crossed for their recovery.
