Grizzly Bear Attacks Elementary School Children on Class ...

By Robert Birsel and Shane CroucherShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

A grizzly bear attacked an elementary school class out for a walk in Canada's Bella Coola, British Columbia, leaving two people critically injured and another two seriously hurt. The bear remains on the loose.

Veronica Schooner told The Canadian Press that her 10-year-old son Alvarez was with the class attacked by the bear on Thursday afternoon and that "he even felt its fur."

"He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else," Schooner said, adding that he son is “traumatized".

She said a male teacher took the worst of the attack as people tried to stop the bear. The other three who were badly hurt are children, Schooner said.

Emergency Health Services spokesman Brian Twaites told the publication the attack happened on a trail near Highway 20. Those with the most severe injuries were transported by helicopter to the hospital.

The Nuxalk Nation Chief and Council said there is "an aggressive bear in the area" and warned people not to go looking for it.

"The bear has still not been found, so we ask that you do not walk anywhere tonight," the Nuxalk Nation said in a statement posted to Facebook.

This is a developing article. Updates to follow.