Alaska man walks 900 yards for help after being mauled by brown bear

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A 66-year-old rural Alaska man walked 900 yards back to his home after he was mauled by a brown bear.

Alaska State Troopers said Andre Siegenthaler suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries in the Tuesday incident near the village of Slana, located about 250 miles northeast of Anchorage or 100 miles west of the Canadian border.

Siegenthaler was reportedly in stable condition Wednesday at a Wasilla hospital, Anchorage television station KTUU reported. Officials at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center refused to release any information about Siegenthaler to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The attack happened Tuesday afternoon as Siegenthaler went to pick up some nails from a neighbour, Ed Bullock.

Bullock said he got his information after speaking to Siegenthaler’s wife, Briggita.

“The bear attacked with no warning from behind a spruce tree, and even though Andre was carrying bear spray, the attack happened faster than Andre could react,” Bullock told KTUU. “Within two bounds the bear was on Andre.”

Siegenthaler suffered bites to his right hip, both shoulders and arms, and had damage to both cheeks and an ear, Bullock said.

He was able to walk home after the bear broke off the attack, and his wife called 911. Troopers did not respond to the incident other than to arrange a medical transport, spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said.

Troopers don’t plan to locate or track the bear.