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The victim was part of a group climbing a mountain on a backcountry ski trip near Haines, Alaska on Saturday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The man sustained head and hand injuries when he was attacked.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game said the victim inadvertently woke up the brown bear in a den, a mother who was likely protecting her cub.
“The skier who was attacked at one point realized he had to play dead, which is probably a good idea in these kinds of circumstances,” the wildlife biologist told CNN. Carl Koch State.
A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Sitka Air Station located the man and two other skiers about 10 miles northwest of Haines at an altitude of 1,600 feet, according to the Coast Guard.
A Coast Guard rescue swimmer was taken down to assess the man’s condition, then used a litter box to hoist the man to the helicopter. He was flown to Juneau for treatment.
The man was alert at the time of the rescue, but the Coast Guard had no further information on his condition. The other two skiers were able to give him first aid and contact the Coast Guard.
“Their satellite communication device provided the precise GPS coordinates and elevation of their location,” said co-pilot Lt. Cmdr. Will Sirokman. “Equally important, they had a brightly colored fabric to signal the helicopter approaching us. It was absolutely crucial for us to find them in a timely manner.”
The other two skiers did not require assistance and continued down the mountain on their own, according to the Coast Guard.
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