A man who was severely injured by a bear has shared his harrowing experience of the moment leading up to the attack when the bear crushed his skull, causing him to lose consciousness.
Dan Bigley narrowly escaped death when a large brown bear dragged him into the bushes and repeatedly bit his head, cracking his skull but miraculously avoiding penetration to his brain.
Although he survived the attack, Dan lost his sight as a result. Nearly two decades later, he vividly recounted the terrifying incident that changed his life forever, including the chilling noise he heard just before he believed his life was ending.
Having lived in Alaska for many years, Dan revealed to the Black Rifle Coffee Company’s YouTube channel that he and his friend Jana encountered the bear while walking in the forest after a day of fishing.
Coastal Alaska is known for hosting the world’s largest brown bears, towering over 9 feet tall and weighing up to 1,500 pounds. These bears are exceptionally agile and can reach speeds of 35 to 40 mph over short distances, outpacing the average human.
Although Dan had previous encounters with bears in the wild, he sensed the distinct aggression of this particular bear as it confronted them. Despite attempting to retreat slowly, the bear suddenly attacked, swiping at Dan.
Unbeknownst to them, the bear’s cubs were nearby, prompting the mother bear to become defensive. Dan’s efforts to seek refuge in the bushes led to a brutal mauling by the bear.
Recalling the traumatic event, Dan described hearing a distressing sound resembling a dying animal, only to realize it was his own screams during the vicious attack.
During the mauling, Dan was dragged into the bushes where the bear sank its teeth into his head, causing him to lose consciousness intermittently. After the bear left, presuming him dead, Jana and local fishermen provided care until emergency services arrived to transport him to the hospital.
Severing several vital arteries, the attack left Dan with life-threatening injuries. Following a lengthy surgery during which he was placed in a medically-induced coma, Dan began his arduous journey to recovery after being awakened twelve days later.
Haunted by the traumatic incident, Dan, a recreational therapist for children, expressed the lasting impact it had on him.
Now residing in Anchorage, Alaska, with his family, Dan co-authored a book in 2013 titled 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 experience, Dan noted that sharing his story and rewriting his book has aided in his healing process, emphasizing that as his life expands, the impact of the trauma diminishes.
He concluded by highlighting his fulfilling life post-incident, emphasizing the importance of moving forward from the adversity symbolized by the bear attack.
At Reach and its affiliated entities, we and our partners utilize information obtained through cookies and other identifiers to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and display personalized ads. You can opt out of data sharing by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button on our website. Your use of our services indicates acceptance of our cookie usage and consent to our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
