Bear Attack Man Recalls 'Horrendous' Mauling
9:09pm Thursday October 07, 2010
Andy Winter
A man who survived being mauled by a bear has described how he felt he had to stand and fight the mighty animal to avoid being killed.
The attack left John Chelminiak with parts of his face and scalp hanging off - and doctors have had to remove his left eye. But the 57-year-old from Bellevue in Washington has claimed the key to his survival was wrestling with the female bear and not allowing her to keep him pinned down. Dressed in a hospital gown and bandages, Mr Chelminiak recalled the terrifying moment the animal sank its teeth into his head. "It was just a horrendous fight," he said. "I vividly remember being bitten on the head and the sound that makes as her teeth were running along the skull."
Mr Chelminiak was left with parts of his face and scalp hanging off
He said there was a "bright flash of light" as the animal slashed him across the eye with her claws. Mr Chelminiak had been walking his dogs outside his family's holiday home at Lake Wenatchee when the rare attack happened. He said he has "no idea" why the bear suddenly stopped - but he did deliver one particularly good blow with his knee. Although he has endured five lots of surgery already, Mr Chelminiak is just happy to be alive. He added: "With the extent of the injury, it's a miracle I made it through."
