A man who was attacked by a bear vividly remembers the terrifying moment before the animal crushed his skull, causing him to lose consciousness.
Dan Bigley narrowly escaped a fatal encounter when a large brown bear dragged him into bushes and repeatedly bit his head, fracturing his skull and rendering him unconscious. Miraculously, his brain remained unharmed.
Despite surviving the attack, Dan lost his sight. Over two decades later, he recounted the traumatic incident, detailing the chilling noise he heard just before fearing for his life.
Having resided in Alaska for many years, Dan shared his experience on the Black Rifle Coffee Company’s YouTube channel. He and his friend Jana had been out fishing when they came face to face with the bear.
Alaska’s coastal region is home to massive brown bears, towering over 9 feet tall and weighing up to 1,500 pounds. These bears are incredibly agile and fast, capable of running at speeds of 35 to 40mph over short distances, making them formidable creatures.
While Dan had encountered bears in the wild previously, he immediately recognized the aggressiveness of this particular bear. As they tried to retreat, the bear attacked Dan, swiping at him.
Unbeknownst to them, the bear’s cubs were nearby, prompting her defensive behavior. Dan’s attempt to evade the situation led to him being mauled after the bear grabbed hold of him.
Recalling the harrowing experience, Dan described hearing his own cries of agony as the bear sank its teeth into his skull, causing him to drift in and out of consciousness during the ordeal.
After the bear left, assuming Dan was dead, Jana and local fishermen provided assistance until emergency services arrived to transport him to the hospital. Dan had suffered severe injuries, including severed arteries, initially deemed life-threatening by medical professionals.
Following extensive surgery and a medically-induced coma, Dan began his recovery journey, awakening twelve days after the attack. The incident left a lasting impact on Dan, haunting him in the years that followed.
Today, Dan resides in Anchorage, Alaska, with his family. In 2013, he co-authored a book, “Beyond the Bear: How I Learned to Live and Love Again after Being Blinded by a Bear,” sharing his inspiring story of resilience and healing.
Reflecting on his journey, Dan emphasized how sharing his story and writing the book has aided in his healing process, enabling him to lead a fulfilling life beyond the trauma of the bear attack.