BERLIN, Nov 21 (Bernama-dpa) — A grizzly bear has attacked a primary school class in the Canadian west coast province of British Columbia, German Press Agency (dpa) reported, citing local media.
Several people were seriously injured in Thursday’s attack, two of them critically, according to the Canadian Press. The news agency quoted emergency workers in the community of Bella Coola, about 700 kilometres north-west of Vancouver.
“Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment to four patients and transported them to hospital,” a spokesman for the emergency rescue services told the agency. “Two patients were in critical condition and two were in serious condition”.
The ages of the victims were not specified, but according to reports children were among them. Rescue workers said the incident occurred on a hiking trail near a highway.
A mother told the Canadian Press that her 10-year-old son was walking with classmates and teachers when the bear attacked the group. The animal came so close to him that he could feel its fur. “He was running for his life,” the mother said. The bear chased her child but then attacked someone else.
The local government of the Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola called on people to stay indoors if possible and to travel by car when necessary. It said the aggressive bear is still on the loose in the area, and warned residents not to “go looking for it”.
The school also announced that it would remain closed on Friday due to the incident.
— BERNAMA-dpa