A man who was attacked by a bear has shared his terrifying experience moments before the animal crushed his skull and rendered him unconscious.
Dan Bigley narrowly escaped death when a large brown bear dragged him into the bushes and repeatedly bit his head with its sharp teeth, causing his skull to crack and him to lose consciousness. Fortunately, his brain remained unharmed by mere millimeters.
Although he survived the attack, Dan lost his sight as a result. Nearly two decades later, he vividly recounted the moment his life changed forever, remembering the chilling sound he heard just before he believed his end was near.
Having spent many years in Alaska, Dan narrated to the Black Rifle Coffee Company’s YouTube channel how he and his friend Jana encountered the bear while walking through the forest following a day of fishing.
Coastal Alaska is home to the largest brown bears globally, with heights exceeding 9 feet and weights up to 1,500 pounds. These bears are remarkably swift and agile, capable of outrunning an average person, reaching speeds of 35 to 40mph in short bursts.
Although Dan had encountered bears in the wild previously, he quickly sensed the difference in this particular bear’s demeanor, visibly agitated and aggressive. As they began to retreat cautiously, the bear suddenly lunged at them, attacking Dan.
Unbeknownst to them at the time, the bear’s cubs were nearby, and she was defending them. Dan tried to leap into the bushes, but the bear grabbed and mauled him.
Recalling the incident, Dan said: “I distinctly recall hearing a distressing sound, reminiscent of a dying animal, and it struck me that the sound was emanating from me.”
Dragged into the bushes, the bear sank its teeth into Dan’s head, fracturing his skull and causing him to lose consciousness. Drifting in and out of awareness, he regained consciousness approximately four times during the attack.
Ultimately, believing Dan to be deceased, the bear departed. Jana, with the help of local fishermen, cared for him for two hours until emergency services arrived to transport him to the hospital.
Numerous vital arteries were severed during the bear’s assault on Dan. Initially deemed “incompatible with life” by doctors, he was placed in a medically-induced coma and underwent a 12-hour surgery. Twelve days post-attack, Dan regained consciousness and commenced his lengthy recovery journey.
Dan, who previously worked as a recreational therapist for children, found himself haunted by the traumatic event.
In a separate interview, he expressed: “Little did I know at the time that this would be one of the last sights I would ever behold with my eyes, etching itself into my mind to replay repeatedly in dreams