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Teen Thought He Would Die In Alaska Bear AttackOne of the teens attacked by a grizzly in the Alaska wilderness says he thought he was spending his last moments on earth as the bear furiously thrashed him around, left, then returned to maul him some more.Related Content
(AP) ANCHORAGE, Alaska — One of the teens attacked by a grizzly in the Alaska wilderness says he thought he was spending his last moments on earth as the bear furiously thrashed him around, left, then returned to maul him some more.
Seventeen-year-old Sam Gottsegen of Denver tells The Associated Press from his hospital bed in Anchorage that he thought "this just can't be the end" during the mauling on Saturday night. He kicked at the grizzly. The bear also seriously injured three other teens. Authorities believe the bear was aggressive because it was with its cub. Gottsegen says no one ever saw a cub. The teens were rescued early Sunday from the Talkeetna Mountains north of Anchorage. They were near the end of a 30-day backcountry course. |
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nancy1953 said on Sunday, Jul 31 at 7:29 AM
I grew up in South East Alaska. From the age of 12 our dad taught us how to use a 44 mag pistol and if we went berry picking or hiking in the woods we wore it in a holster. It was loaded and ready to go. Bears are very unpredictable. I must say we came from a very disciplined home, we knew better than to play with the gun, we knew it was to be used only in case of an emergency. We never messed with it. Bear spray is not going to stop a charging bear. A 44 will get it's attention in a hurry!
71580294Locutus said on Tuesday, Jul 26 at 9:18 AM
I agree that these kids responded as best they could, I also have lived in Alaska, and I have never been attacked by a bear. However, I also believe that people traveling in the backwoods should be armed. Sorry to all you tree huggers, and "Guns only make more problems", and all you "I am from Alaska, and no bears eaten, or mauled me" idiots. I have only one thing to say "Go back to Woodstock if you can't kill anything, Hippy!" If you're terrified of big bad awful guns, don't use them. And while you are getting mauled, don't scream for me to save you with my evil, horrible big bad gun, or rifle. It's easy for all you armchair hippies to say all that, but if you actually spent time in the woods, and encountered a bear, and got killed, you'd be wishing you had one then. All you tree hugging "Kill humans, save bears" hippies can go back to Woodstock, and take all the other animal rights activists with you.
71309072KAREN LEE said on Tuesday, Jul 26 at 9:15 AM
Having walked off and on for the last 40 years in the area where the teens were hiking, I have ALWAYS seen bear scat and fresh tracks. One must be prepared with a gun, not bear spray, not bear bells, not loud noises!
71308879Karen Lee said on Tuesday, Jul 26 at 9:12 AM
Having walked for 40 years in the area where the teens were hiking, I have ALWAYS
71308654akgunlover said on Tuesday, Jul 26 at 8:49 AM
all of this gun b.s. i guess you think that those kids at camp in norway should of had guns too. then they could have shot the fake cop right? You are fools to think guns make things better, you are just scared that you arent in control. many of us live and survive in the wilderness of ak without firearms, ask the many iditarod drivers who sled 1100 miles across ak without a piece. statistically driving to work is way more dangerous than ak wilderness could ever be, why dont you scared gun people think about that, oh its just to regular for you to consider well quit judging other people for doing whats regular to them. and btw the lower 48 has bears and wilderness and snakes that kill in seconds, i could drop you off in the rockies or everglades and you wouldnt have any better chance. quit making all alaskans look so fearful. just cause youre scared doesnt mean i have to be, go live in a bubble. these kids were braver than you could ever be, take notes about being badass from them!
71306928Sandy said on Tuesday, Jul 26 at 4:10 AM
Phil, how cynical! There is always someone like you who has to place the blame on someone to feel righteous! Those kids were trained well, reacted well, stayed calm and set off the emergency response locator. I'm proud of those kids and hope them a speedy recovery. There are all sorts of ways to get hurt or killed Everywhere is a dangerous place if the circumstances are right. I could step out to my yard to take my dog out to pee and get kicked or killed by a moose. Or attacked by a bear... I'm a nurse and have taken care of bear mauling victims, and I'm sure nobbody ever promised these kids everything would end perfectly, but they had trained and - I thnik _ did well.
71292042cantbelievemyeyes said on Monday, Jul 25 at 10:28 PM
Here you are,quibbling over the advantages/disadvantages of being Alaskan or from elsewhere. What about the boys? What about that?? It was stated that one boy was a good bit ahead of the others,that they were crossing a stream,creek,river (all of which are in that area...I was raised there) and all they had to "protect" them was some "bear spray". They WERE calling out to each other,correctly making noise to alert bears. They were doing the best they were trained to do in that short amount of time. I do agree that a LISCENCED Alaskan guide should have been with a group,no matter where they were from or how old they were! Do "all" Alaskans know how to behave and what to do in our wild country? Of course not! The bear attacked more than once.Of course she did,it's nature's law...protect your young. Cubs are hidden,by the way,until mama knows they are safe.Rivers make noise,it's easy to startle a bear.Stop arguing and let your words be encouraging for the boys and families!!
71285884yogi said on Monday, Jul 25 at 8:26 PM
if you are going to spray a bear it better contain big chunks of lead
71283356olddg said on Monday, Jul 25 at 8:00 PM
Where was the bear spray? Where were the bear bells? At least have a big slobbering dog along for protection. Well at least they will remember their experience in Alaska for the rest of their lives. Stupid all the way arround
71282598Richard said on Monday, Jul 25 at 7:39 PM
Grizzly bears take notice: I am armed with a short barrelled 12 gauge shotgun loaded with five .70 caliber 1 1/4 ounce Brenneke slug loads arriving at 1500 feet per second. If you attack me, you are in more trouble than I am.
71281898Saber said on Monday, Jul 25 at 7:37 PM
Its really sad these kids got hurt, one of the main things these kids should have been taught is the importance of carrying a large caliber gun when entering Alaskas wilderness. If the parents did not want the kids armed then a Guide or leader in the group should have been present armed. Heck we do not even let our pipeline workers and construction crews run around in the back country with out a bear guard
71281812Chris said on Monday, Jul 25 at 7:22 PM
Phil you're way off the mark on this. How elitist of you to think that because they were from the lower 48 this happened. Anyone startling a bear or moose this time of year is in danger. You can be from anywhere and why are you placing blame?
71281329Facts said on Monday, Jul 25 at 7:04 PM
Keep sending us your tourists and well just keep feeding them to the .... uh I mean well keep showing them the good spots to hang out and be at one with nature.
71280619Anonymous said on Monday, Jul 25 at 4:47 PM
Whether you are an Alaskan or not, i recommend a large can of bear spray at 30 feet, followed by a 500S&w at 15 feet.
71275751Sue said on Monday, Jul 25 at 4:40 PM
I disagree with Phil. It sounds like these kids had more wilderness training (over three weeks?) than most of us who were born here. As a teen, I travelled all over the backcountry with little or no adult supervision, and no gun, including on the outskirts of Katmai, with grizzlies around all of the time. I have never in my life heard of a bear attacking a group of people this large. Local wisdom has always been that if you are in a group of four or more, you are pretty much safe (unless it's a polar bear). Maybe the river was loud in that spot and the bear couldn't hear them. Maybe it was sick or hurt. After 47 years here, I feel that this was a freak accident. The fact that these kids were able to take care of each other, set off their emergency locater, and get themselves rescued, tells me that they were well trained. According to ADN, this boy was one of the two with life-threatening injuries, so it appears that he will live. Prayers that the other boy does as well.
71275534PMS said on Monday, Jul 25 at 4:37 PM
I keep reading where a lot of you "alaskans" think these kids would have been okay had they been from Alaska, they would have known what to do had they been from Alaska, etc...etc.. Well I am from Alaska and I happen to know that people from Alaska, cover your ears if you can't handle this information, however, people from Alaska also get attacked and killed, yes killed, by bears also! OMG, say it isn't true! because a lot of Alaskans think it only happens to people from the lower 48. Grow up people!! It was a mother bear protecting her baby. These kids were out there for 24 of there 30 days and nothing like this happened...They were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I seriously do not think that anyone is responsible or should be held accountable for anything. I also think the kids did an excellent job administering first aid and getting help for themselves.
71275412Phil said on Monday, Jul 25 at 4:12 PM
This is something that should never of happened if the leaders of this group knew anything about being in the Alaskan wilderness. I place the total blame on them. Each group should of had an Alaskan Guide with him armed for something like this. If any of these kids die, the people responsible for these kids should be arrested! These kids were from the lower 48 and had no idea what the Alaskan wilderness was like. Yes it is beautiful right now but danger lurks everywhere if you're not trained properly to be in the wilderness here. At the very least the leaders should be charged with child neglect. And if one of them dies, with Wrongful Death in a civil court if the judicial system won't do anything. Again, there is no reason these kids had to have this happen to them.
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