Photo: X and PIxabay.
CANADA.- Vanessa Chaput, a 24-year-old woman living in Yukon County, Canada, came across four bears during a morning walk.
Vanessa was accompanied by her dog, a German shepherd named Luna, they were jogging along a trail in Haines Junction, when she found herself surrounded by four bears.
Vanessa and Luna came across three of the bears, while the fourth, smaller one, was behind her. In a brave act of defense, Luna managed to drive two of the animals away.
One of the bears brutally attacked the young woman, biting her on the head and causing serious injuries with its claws.
“I felt like a rag doll and there was nothing I could do…” she told TODAY. Despite the severe attack, Chaput remained focused on her family, thinking of her daughter and husband: “I’m not ready to leave my daughter and my husband.”
“The attack ended when the bear suddenly let go of her head and ran away,” she explained. Vanessa believes the barrette she was wearing in her hair exploded in the bear’s mouth, allowing her to escape.
After the attack, Vanessa took refuge behind a tree, while the bear tried to attack her again without success.
Chaput also attributes his rescue to Luna’s bark, which scared the bear and prevented a new attack. She eventually made it to the highway and used her smartwatch to contact her husband, Dave Leegstra, and police.
He was in the hospital for ten days, receiving more than thirty stitches in various parts of his body, especially in his back and thigh. He also suffered a broken arm. Despite the blood loss, he did not need a transfusion.
Yukon Conservation Officer Services said on its Facebook page that it responded to the attack.
“Chaput’s dog provoked a defensive reaction from the bear, which led to the attack,” they said.
An officer euthanized a bear on site as a public safety precaution, and the nearby camp was evacuated. Additionally, officials located two other bears in the area that were euthanized, and efforts are continuing to recover the fourth bear.
Necropsies are ongoing to identify relationships and genetic factors of the animals.
Vanessa and her recovery
Although Vanessa has been discharged from the hospital, she is not yet ready to return to running.
She visited the scene of the attack accompanied by an officer and said: “I am very surprised by how lucky I am… I am extremely grateful that God has taken care of me.”
The brave woman received a lot of support on social media. On her Facebook profile, she wrote:
“Dave and I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support over the past few days. It’s been amazing how many people have reached out to us.”
At the end of her post, Vanessa thanked the hospital staff, the officers who assisted her, and the people who contributed donations to cover her medical expenses.
