Rescuers ‘punched and kicked’ grizzly during attack, says Nuxalk Nation chief

Eye witnesses say teachers used their bare hands, crutches and bear spray to defend students from a grizzly bear that attacked them during a school trip. in Bella Coola, B.C.

One teacher on crutches, a second adult with bear spray, and a third person who punched and kicked a grizzly despite serious injuries are being praised for their actions that saved a school group attacked by a bear near Bella Coola, B.C.

Four people, including children, were hospitalized Thursday after a bear attack on students and teachers from the Nuxwalk First Nation while out on a school trip, near Acwalcta School east of the remote community.

Seven others were treated on scene for their injuries.

“When the kids were getting attacked, one of my cousins who had his skull ripped, ran towards the bear and jumped on it with his bare hands,” said Noel Pootlass, a hereditary chief of the Nuxalk First Nation.

“He started punching and kicking it,” Pootlass told Global News on Saturday.

Pootlass said another teacher unloaded two cans of bear spray into the eyes of the animal, noting that it “never even fazed it, didn’t do anything to the bear.”

Pootlass said a third teacher then got involved in rescue efforts.

”Another lady, a teacher with crutches, was whacking it, hitting it (in the) eyes, in the face, in the head, for minutes and then the bear finally took off,” he explained.