School Outing Turns to Terror as Grizzly Bear Attacks
A peaceful walking trail in remote British Columbia became the scene of a terrifying wildlife attack when a grizzly bear targeted a group of schoolchildren and their teachers, leaving eleven people injured.
The incident occurred late on Thursday in Bella Coola, approximately 435 miles northwest of Vancouver. Among the injured, two people suffered critical injuries while two others sustained serious wounds, according to emergency health services spokesperson Brian Twaites.
Emergency Response and Ongoing Danger
The Nuxalk Nation, representing the local First Nation community, confirmed that the "aggressive bear" remains on the loose in the area. Police and conservation officers have descended on the scene, armed and prepared to deal with the dangerous animal.
In a social media warning, the First Nation urged residents to "remain indoors and off the highway" as the search for the bear continues. The remote location, some 700 kilometres from Vancouver, has complicated emergency response efforts.
Medical teams treated several victims at the scene, while the most severely injured required helicopter evacuation to receive urgent medical care elsewhere.
Eyewitness Accounts Reveal Harrowing Details
Veronica Schooner, whose 10-year-old son Alvarez was among the students, described the terrifying moments when the bear charged the group. "He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else," Schooner recounted, adding that her son was so close to the animal "he even felt its fur."
The parent revealed that one male teacher "got the whole brunt of it" during the attack and was among those airlifted from the scene. Teachers reportedly used bear spray in their attempts to fight off the charging grizzly, with some children accidentally getting hit with the deterrent in the chaos.
Schooner described her son returning home with muddy shoes and a limp from his desperate run to safety, but noted his immediate concern was for his classmates. "He keeps crying for his friends, and oh my goodness, right away he started praying for his friends," she said.
Community Response and School Closure
Acwsalcta school, an independent institution run by the Nuxalk First Nation in Bella Coola, announced it would remain closed on Friday following the traumatic event. In a Facebook post, school administrators expressed their gratitude for staff and students while acknowledging the difficulty of the situation.
Counseling services have been made available to help students, staff, and families process the traumatic event. The school's statement reflected the community's shock, noting "It's hard to know what to say during this very difficult time."
As the search for the bear continues, authorities maintain their warning for residents to stay indoors while armed officers conduct their operation in the Bella Coola area.
