A 36-year-old Sparwood man was left in serious condition when he was attacked by a grizzly bear Thursday afternoon.
Elk Valley RCMP officials said the detachment responded to the area south of Elkford at about 3 p.m. to investigate a report of a bear attack.
According to police, two local men were tracking a bear with dogs in steep terrain when the Sparwood man was suddenly attacked.
The man suffered several injuries, including broken bones and lacerations to his body.
The man was able to defend himself with a gun and the bear ran off while his father, who was travelling with him, called for help.
Elkford Fire Department, BC Ambulance, RCMP, Conservation officers and local Search and Rescue teams sprang into action.
The Search and Rescue crew moved the man about 200 metres down the mountainside and coordinated a helicopter long line to airlift the victim to safety.
RCMP officials said the helicopter flew the man to a helipad in Elkford and handed him into the care of STARS Air Ambulance.
He was in stable condition when the crew took him to Calgary Foothills Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the bear remained at large and a team with the Conservation Officer Service set out to track down the animal.
Police said the team found the bear’s dead body just after 9 p.m. near the original scene.
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