NEED TO KNOW
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A 10-year-old boy ran for his life during a grizzly bear attack in western Canada on Nov. 20
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Three children and one adult were seriously injured and are receiving further care in Vancouver, officials said in an update
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The bear has yet to be found, but investigators believe the animal was previously injured before the attack
A mother is detailing what her 10-year-old son experienced when a grizzly bear attacked during a school outing in Canada.
“He was running for his life,” Veronica Schooner told The Canadian Press of her son Alvarez, adding that the bear was so close that the boy “even felt its fur.”
“He said that bear ran so close to him,” Schooner continued, “but it was going after somebody else.”
The attack occurred on Thursday, Nov. 20, when a group of students and teachers rom Acwsalcta School, an independent First Nation school in the Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola, were having lunch on a trail near a river, officials and the school confirmed in separate statements shared on social media.
The tenor of the afternoon instantly changed when the bear came out from the nearby forest and attacked.
“Multiple teachers physically intervened, using bear spray and a bear banger, to drive the bear away,” the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said in an update on Friday, Nov. 21.
A spokesperson for the investigating agency confirmed that three children and one adult were injured and have since been transported to hospitals in Vancouver for further care.
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the Provincial Health Services Authority said that all four patients remained in the hospital.
“Their families have asked for privacy and that we refrain from sharing details about their conditions at this time,” they added.
An additional seven people received treatment at the scene.
The evening after the attack, additional conservation officers arrived to investigate. As of Friday afternoon, the bear had yet to be found, but investigators said they believed the animal was previously injured before the attack.
“We recognize this incident is distressing for the community. We are in close contact with the Nuxalk Nation as our investigation continues. We thank them for their collaborative efforts to ensure community awareness and shared safety information,” BCCOS Insp. Kevin Van Damme said in an update. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery.”
Following the terrifying incident, Acwsalcta School shared a statement thanking everyone who was impacted and responded, from the children to first responders.
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Bella Coola Valley in western Canada.
“To our students: we are so proud of the way you supported one another, listened to instructions, and were together as a community,” the school said. “Today was frightening and your resilience is truly admirable.”
They went on to thank their employees “for your swift actions, calm leadership, and unwavering dedication to protecting and supporting our students. Your courage and professionalism made a tremendous difference in an incredibly challenging moment.”
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The school in Bella Coola, British Columbia, Canada.
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Locals near the area of the attack are urged to stay inside. Anyone who spots a bear in Bella Coola is asked to contact the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277.
Read the original article on People