Saturday, November 22, 2025 - A grizzly bear attacked a group of primary school children and teachers, injuring 11.
The bear remains on the loose following the attack on Nov.
20.
Kids ran for their lives in Bella Coola, British
Columbia, Canada, when the large bear suddenly appeared. It left four
people in a serious condition in hospital - two of those are now
fighting for their lives.
Emergency services said seven more people were treated at
the scene of the attack in the community about 700km northwest of Vancouver,
which was reported just before 2pm on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Veronica Schooner said her 10-year-old son Alvarez was in
the Year 4-5 class that was attacked while on a walk and was so close to the
animal "he even felt its fur."
She continued: "He was running for his
life."
It is understood a male teacher heroically tried to stop the
bear but he was among those who was seriously injured and taken away in an
ambulance. Ms Schooner told how the teacher “got the whole brunt of it” from
the aggressive animal.
She told The Canadian Press her son Alvarez was
“traumatised” by the attack which had injured his friends, with three children
among those with major injuries.
So far authorities in Canada have not released the names or
ages of the victims.
"He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was
going after somebody else," said Ms Schooner, with Alvarez left in shock
from what happened.
"Everybody was in shock at the school. A lot of people
were crying, and I don't know, I just wanted my son, and I grabbed him, and
then I took him home.”
The Nuxalk Nation, the First Nation government based in
Bella Coola, said the bear remains on the loose.
In a statement to the community on Facebook, it said:
There is an aggressive bear in the area. DO NOT GO LOOKING FOR IT.
"It is understandable if you are feeling stressed and
scared. Support is available at the Youth Centre. Please join us for food,
comfort, and community. Please do not walk there - if you need a ride, contact
Shanti Tallio-Milton or Cole Sankey.
"Otherwise, if you are not at the hospital or youth
centre, STAY INDOORS, do not go down any trails. If you need to go somewhere,
please drive."
Acwsalcta School, which is run by the Nuxalk Nation in Bella
Coola, says the incident involved members of its community. It announced the
school will be closed Friday due to “the bear incident.”
It stated: “It’s hard to know what to say during this very
difficult time. We are so grateful for our team and our students."
Emergency Health Services spokesman Brian Twaites said the
attack happened on a trail near Highway 20, and two ambulances and a community
paramedic responded.
"Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment to
four patients and transported them to hospital. Two patients were in critical
condition and two were in serious condition," he said.
The local authority, the Central Coast Regional District and
Board, offered its condolences to the community with chairwoman Jayme Kennedy,
saying: "On behalf of the Central Coast Regional District and the Board I
would like to send heartfelt support to the Nuxalk Nation and to all touched by
the bear attack that took place this afternoon.
"We are all feeling devastation as we try to understand
the magnitude of the attack and navigate what has happened. To all that were
able to assist in any way, we would like to extend our thanks to you for
providing the immediate support required. The CCRD will continue to share
any updates provided by the Nuxalk Nation and assist where needed."
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