Post by Woody Williams on Oct 1, 2005 13:15:17 GMT -5
Peace River Block Daily News
LOCAL MAN SURVIVES GRIZZLY ATTACK
Man saved after his friend shoots bear off of him in Williston Lake area.
Gary Rusak, Daily News
A local man credits his hunting buddy with saving his life after a grizzly bear attacked him during a hunting trip in the Williston Lake area last week.
"As I approached the bushes I could hear a little rustling and then I was thinking a bull (elk) might come out , but it was a grizzly bear in there," said Clint Switzwe on Friday, recounting his brush with mortality while hunting last Tuesday morning. "It came out in full charge and with a dull roar. It came through the bush, I thought I had a little bit of time because I was 30 feet away from it, but it was on the full charge."
The 34 year old ICBC claims adjuster was in the bush with his friend Marty Anderson in search of a couple of elk that the pair had spotted.
"It was one of the few times in my life I ever stepped off in the bush hunting without carrying my own gun," said Switzer.
However, Anderson was packing his 30-06, and it was a good thing.
"I took off to the right hoping maybe Marty could get a shot at it before it got me," said Switzer. "But, I wasn't quite that lucky. (The bear) hit me full out in the back and bent me over backwards and as he flattened me
he rolled right over top of me. I tried to roll and jump up, but before I could get to my knees he had already regained himself and jumped back at me. As he jumped on me I was just thinking about trying to protect my head and face."
While Switzer struggled for his life, Anderson took dead aim.
"He made a couple of swipes at my side and stuff and ended up coming down on me and latching on to my upper thigh," said Switzer. "I was just trying to defend myself, throwing punches to get him to let go of my leg. I had never heard them really roar like that before. I was punching at him, probably frantically, and as he did that I heard a shot ring out and that bear just screamed and immediately on a dime he spun around 180 degrees."
The wounded beast ran straight at Anderson while he pumped a second shot into his shoulder.
"He shot him a third time with one hand on the gun and pointing the gun right at the bear's head," said Switzer. He was dead as a doornail at that
point."
With endearing modesty, Anderson said that he just did what needed to be done.
"I didn't have time to think," he said. "Just shoot the bear and don't shoot my buddy, was the only thing I was thinking."
While the two celebrated their triumph, two other men from their hunting party joined them at the site.
"Me and Marty were cheering and shaking hands and high fiving," said Switzer. "Our other two buddies had quite the look on their face when they saw the bear there . . . We then headed back to camp. I was still a
little rattled, to be honest we had a few stiff drinks and stayed the night at the camp."
After returning to the city on Wednesday night, Switzer went right to the hospital where he was treated for minor bruises and abrasions.
"I just had some bite marks on my thigh, lots of bruising and soreness," he said, "It feels like I played a really rough hockey game or something."
Switzer praised Anderson for being calm under pressure and wondered how he could possibly repay him.
"He definitely saved my life," he said. "I owe him a big Christmas present this year."
LOCAL MAN SURVIVES GRIZZLY ATTACK
Man saved after his friend shoots bear off of him in Williston Lake area.
Gary Rusak, Daily News
A local man credits his hunting buddy with saving his life after a grizzly bear attacked him during a hunting trip in the Williston Lake area last week.
"As I approached the bushes I could hear a little rustling and then I was thinking a bull (elk) might come out , but it was a grizzly bear in there," said Clint Switzwe on Friday, recounting his brush with mortality while hunting last Tuesday morning. "It came out in full charge and with a dull roar. It came through the bush, I thought I had a little bit of time because I was 30 feet away from it, but it was on the full charge."
The 34 year old ICBC claims adjuster was in the bush with his friend Marty Anderson in search of a couple of elk that the pair had spotted.
"It was one of the few times in my life I ever stepped off in the bush hunting without carrying my own gun," said Switzer.
However, Anderson was packing his 30-06, and it was a good thing.
"I took off to the right hoping maybe Marty could get a shot at it before it got me," said Switzer. "But, I wasn't quite that lucky. (The bear) hit me full out in the back and bent me over backwards and as he flattened me
he rolled right over top of me. I tried to roll and jump up, but before I could get to my knees he had already regained himself and jumped back at me. As he jumped on me I was just thinking about trying to protect my head and face."
While Switzer struggled for his life, Anderson took dead aim.
"He made a couple of swipes at my side and stuff and ended up coming down on me and latching on to my upper thigh," said Switzer. "I was just trying to defend myself, throwing punches to get him to let go of my leg. I had never heard them really roar like that before. I was punching at him, probably frantically, and as he did that I heard a shot ring out and that bear just screamed and immediately on a dime he spun around 180 degrees."
The wounded beast ran straight at Anderson while he pumped a second shot into his shoulder.
"He shot him a third time with one hand on the gun and pointing the gun right at the bear's head," said Switzer. He was dead as a doornail at that
point."
With endearing modesty, Anderson said that he just did what needed to be done.
"I didn't have time to think," he said. "Just shoot the bear and don't shoot my buddy, was the only thing I was thinking."
While the two celebrated their triumph, two other men from their hunting party joined them at the site.
"Me and Marty were cheering and shaking hands and high fiving," said Switzer. "Our other two buddies had quite the look on their face when they saw the bear there . . . We then headed back to camp. I was still a
little rattled, to be honest we had a few stiff drinks and stayed the night at the camp."
After returning to the city on Wednesday night, Switzer went right to the hospital where he was treated for minor bruises and abrasions.
"I just had some bite marks on my thigh, lots of bruising and soreness," he said, "It feels like I played a really rough hockey game or something."
Switzer praised Anderson for being calm under pressure and wondered how he could possibly repay him.
"He definitely saved my life," he said. "I owe him a big Christmas present this year."