Today, while my wife & I were walking through the mall, we came across one of my co-workers from Landmark Realty. She told us that her cousin in Calgary was severely attacked by a hungry bear while mountain biking. He is now in the hospital in critical condition. The very least my wife & I could do for her was pray that God would heal her cousin. Please pray for him as well.
NEWS ARTICLE- CALGARY HERALD
Mountain bikers save man from bear attackSherri Zickefoose and Craig Douce, CanWest News ServicePublished: Sunday, May 14, 2006CALGARY--Cries for help alerted friends to a mauled mountain biker being dragged into the trees and guarded by a black bear in Banff, Alta.The 41-year-old man was riding alone on a trail on the outskirts of town Friday evening when he was attacked."This potentially was a predatory attack," said Ian Syme, Banff National Park's chief park warden. "There are indications there was a struggle for some time," he said, adding the prolonged attack was unusual. After most surprise encounters, bears will leave the area."He's very lucky he was found when he was."The bear slashed and bit the man, and dragged him about 50 metres off the trail into the trees.Mountain bikers Robert Earl and Robin Borstmayer came across the man's bicycle --and broken blue helmet -- lying across the path just after 8 p.m.It was a bike Earl instantly recognized -- it belonged to his colleague in the town office.But the attack victim was nowhere to be seen, until he cried out. "It was a cry for help from the woods: 'Help, help me,"' said Earl, who is Banff's town manager.The man yelled out a warning that the bear was still nearby. Borstmayer rode to a nearby campground to get help and Earl stayed behind to protect his injured friend, who was in shock."The bear would disappear over a rise perhaps 50 yards away. We would lose sight for five minutes or so, and then the bear would reappear," he said.A warden shot and killed the young bear after it continued lingering at the scene despite the growing number of people in the area.The young male bear, believed about 150 pounds, was thin. "We're very confident this was the bear involved. He was not in very good shape," said Syme.A necropsy was performed on the bear Saturday to help wardens learn about its health and if it was diseased."I don't think there's any question if we hadn't shown up it would be a different story," said Borstmayer, who added the bear encounter is his first."I'm glad that I was on that trail last night. And I'm glad I could help a friend in need," said Earl. "He's a valued town employee and certainly my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."The man suffered chest and arm injuries and was flown to hospital in Calgary.After surgery Saturday, he was listed in stable condition.Wardens estimate there are about 10 grizzlies near town. Five to seven black bears are also in the area. With deep snow in the backcountry, bears are lured to the lower valleys in search of food.Grizzly bears roaming an area where a woman was killed last summer caused conservation officers to close a number of Canmore, Alta., backcountry areas and trails earlier this month.Isabelle Dube, 36, of Canmore was killed by a grizzly bear last June. Dube, a Quebec native, had been cross-country running in the area with two other women at the time of the attack.Posted by David Shieh- Abbotsford Real Estate Agent Landmark Realty Corp.
