When hiking or camping outdoors, encountering wildlife is inevitable. But what should you do if you’re suddenly under attack? A 26-year-old man from Germany recently went hiking in the Carpathian Mountains with his girlfriend when they unexpectedly came face-to-face with a 1.8-meter brown bear that attacked the couple, severely mauling the man’s calf. Fortunately, thanks to his girlfriend’s quick thinking, he survived.
According to the Mirror, Andi Bauer, 26, and his 23-year-old girlfriend Lara Booth had embarked on a five-day hiking trip in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains. Despite warnings from a priest advising them not to go, the couple pressed on. On the first day, they spotted snakes, lizards, and six wild boars.
The next day, they found the mauled remains of a fawn, which began to raise their concerns. Not long after, the couple actually encountered a brown bear accompanied by two cubs. Due to the close proximity, the mother bear, presumably trying to protect her young, launched an attack. Bauer was bitten hard on the calf and recalled being tossed into the air. Despite his desperate cries for help, no one was around to assist.
Booth, who was about 6 meters away, was paralyzed with fear. “It’s really hard to stay calm in danger. Suddenly, I remembered that attacking a bear’s eyes can drive them away, so I quickly told Bauer to go for the eyes.” Bauer did as she said, successfully scaring off the bear. However, his right leg was badly injured, so he used his sock to stanch the bleeding while Booth set off alone to find a signal.
After successfully contacting the police, Bauer was airlifted to a local hospital for treatment and is now out of danger. Bauer also mentioned that he hadn’t brought bear spray because he thought the chance of encountering a bear was low and was worried it might explode. He expressed immense relief at having survived the ordeal.