Grandson's "It's a bear"... Grandfather in wheelchair 'rushed forward'

113kg Black Bear Appears and Attacks Grandson
Bear Dies After Being Shot by Police Responding to Incident

A story has been shared about a grandfather in a wheelchair in the United States who saved his grandson from an attack by a wild bear, drawing attention. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bora Lee] In the United States, a grandfather in a wheelchair has moved many by saving his grandson from an attack by a wild bear.

According to multiple foreign media including the AP on the 17th (local time), the incident occurred around 11 a.m. on the 16th at a home in Connecticut, New England, USA.

A black bear weighing 113 kg appeared in the backyard of the house and attacked a 10-year-old boy who was playing there. The bear bit the boy's leg and dragged him across the lawn. At that moment, the boy shouted, "Bear!"

James Butler, the boy’s grandfather who witnessed the scene and has limited mobility, rushed at the bear in his wheelchair to save his grandson. Butler threw a metal rod at the bear, and the bear released the boy temporarily after being hit, Butler explained.

However, when the bear tried to take the boy again, the boy screamed, "Help me. Bear, bear," and their neighbor Jonathan Digimas came to assist the grandfather and grandson. Even after Butler and the boy took refuge inside the house, the bear did not return to the forest but reportedly moved along the wheelchair ramp.

Butler recalled the moment, saying it was a "threatening situation" and "I thought the bear was going to enter the house." The bear was shot and killed by police officers who arrived on the scene. The boy was injured on his back, thigh, ankle, and foot and was transported to the hospital, but his life is not in danger.

The State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection stated, "It is rare for black bears to attack people," and "this case is the most aggressive example." They added, "Once a bear group loses its fear of humans, it begins to associate humans with food," warning that "if the group learns this, bears become more wild and unpredictable."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.