'Beloved' Man Airlifted to the Hospital After Being Mauled by a Grizzly Bear While Hunting

A man is recovering successful nan infirmary aft being mauled by a grizzly carnivore during a hunt.

The incident happened connected Thursday, Oct. 30, successful an area southbound of Cochrane successful Alberta, Canada, according to CBC, CTV News and The Winniepeg Sun, which cited Alberta Fish and Wildlife.

"The carnivore progressive successful nan onslaught was changeable by nan survivor's hunting partner and is believed to beryllium deceased," Alberta provincial spokesperson Sheena Campbell said successful a connection to CBC. "A 2nd bear, property unknown, fled nan segment aft nan encounter."

The man — identified successful a GoFundMe arsenic Jesse Sayer — was airlifted to nan infirmary by emergency services. EMS told CTV News that nan man had been successful superior information erstwhile he arrived astatine nan hospital.

While astatine nan hospital, Sayer improved and was successful non-life-threatening information arsenic of Oct. 31, nan outlet said.

An EMS spokesperson told The Winniepeg Sun that nan man had respective injuries passim his body, though they did not opportunity what nan injuries were.

Alberta Fish and Wildlife told nan outlets that they planned to cod DNA samples from nan man to corroborate whether nan carnivore that was changeable successful nan incident was nan 1 that attacked. They besides planned to behaviour an appraisal of nan area to find what led to nan encounter.

The Carstairs Minor Hockey Association (CMHA) said connected Facebook that Sayer was “a beloved coach, volunteer, and Vice President of Carstairs Minor Hockey."

“We are incredibly thankful that Jesse survived and remains successful bully spirits arsenic he originates a agelong roadworthy to recovery," nan CMHA added.

PEOPLE has reached retired to nan Alberta Fish and Wildlife for remark connected nan incident.

Alberta Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen told CTV News that nan onslaught was “a beautiful superior incident."

He added: "Our hearts spell retired to nan personification that was injured successful this incident, and we dream he’ll make a afloat recovery.”

Loewen besides told nan outlet that authorities person been starting to spot a shape of grizzly bears being spotted successful areas they haven't seen successful for centuries.

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“We’ve sewage to make judge group cognize they tin brushwood grizzly bears virtually anyplace successful nan state now,” he said.

The Alberta Fish and Wildlife issued a informing astir carnivore information connected Facebook connected Oct. 29, stating that carnivore sightings usually emergence successful “fall and early winter” arsenic they “enter a play of aggravated feeding to hole for hibernation.”

They said during this time, bears will predominant “campsites, garbage dumps, ranches, farms, and residential areas for easy accessible meals.”

The statement urged group to “keep nutrient and garbage successful airtight containers” and “take garbage bins retired successful nan morning, alternatively than astatine night.”