A 15-year-old boy is expected to survive an “extremely rare” bear attack that occurred late Thursday when the wild animal broke into his family’s cabin.
Brigham Hawkins was watching videos at the family’s Alpine cabin when the black bear walked in through an open door and swiped at the boy’s face from behind.
“He hadn’t realized it because it came in from behind and it reached over and swiped at his face twice. Got him on the nose and the cheek, and then, it went ahead and got his forehead and the top of his head,” Brigham’s mother said.
The bear left the cabin for a few moments before returning, taking aim at the boy’s arm.
Luckily for Hawkins, his older brother and father heard his screams and rushed to the rescue, chasing the bear away.
“It was thanks to that quick reaction by his brother and his family that they were able to distract the bear from what very easily in a matter of seconds could have turned into a real tragedy there,” the Arizona Game and Fish Department Law Enforcement Supervisor Shawn Wagner said.
The teen suffered wounds to the face and arm and has received rabies vaccine.
The bear was located roughly 120 feet away from the scene and had been euthanized.
“Having an attack is actually extremely rare,” Wagner added.
