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Fund established to help bear attack survivor
A fund has been established to help a Cranbrook man and his family following a grizzly bear attack and shooting incident last weekend near Fernie.
On Sunday, October 12, while hunting elk near Fernie with his son-in-law Skeet Podrasky, Wilf Lloyd, 55-years-old, was attacked by an adult male grizzly bear.
“Wilf was instantly knocked to the ground and found himself being viciously mauled by the grizzly. While trying to defend himself, he yelled to Skeet to shoot the bear, fearing that he would surely be killed if the attack continued. Skeet impulsively shot the bear several times, causing the grizzly to cease the mauling. One of the rounds fired at the bear inadvertently struck Wilf in the thigh.
“The now wounded bear ceased the attack momentarily, running into the thick surrounding bushes, only to charge at Wilf again seconds later. Skeet, having discharged all of the rounds from his own gun, was able to find Wilf’s rifle and shot the charging bear again, ending the attack,” explains a story with the YouCaring.com fundraising webpage started by family friend Darrell Orth.
Wilf is now recovering in Calgary hospital.
Because he will be facing an undetermined number of months to recover from his injuries, he will be unable to run his small taxidermy business in Cranbrook.
Friends have set up the fund for financial donations for those who would like to assist the family at this time.
“Much praise and thanks should be given to all those responsible for Wilf’s rescue, including BC Ambulance and Fernie Search & Rescue personnel, STARs Air Ambulance, along with Skeet’s cousin Jennifer and husband Andrew, for the quick response and amazing first aid care,” the YouCaring.com webpage notes.
Lead image: YouCaring.com
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