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Man Jumps On Polar Bear To Save His Wife -- And Lives To Tell The Tale

December 6, 2024

In an incredible act of courage, a man in Fort Severn, Ontario, leapt onto a polar bear to save his wife early Tuesday morning.

According to a police report, the couple had stepped outside around 5 a.m. to search for their dogs when the unexpected encounter occurred.

The polar bear lunged at the woman, causing her to fall. Acting without hesitation, her husband threw himself onto the bear to divert its attack.

"The woman slipped to ground as her husband leapt onto the animal to prevent its attack," Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service said in a statement. "The bear then attacked the male, causing serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and legs.

As the struggle unfolded, a quick-thinking neighbor arrived with a firearm, firing multiple shots that caused the bear to retreat. It was later found deceased in a nearby wooded area.

Emergency responders from the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service quickly arrived at the scene. The injured man was transported to the local nursing station, where he is being treated for his injuries and is expected to recover fully.

Authorities patrolled the area to ensure no other bears posed a threat.

Polar bear attacks are rare but not unheard of, particularly in remote Arctic communities where human encounters with these powerful predators can occur as they search for food.