Two collegiate wrestlers who were hunting with teammates in Wyoming over the weekend were attacked and injured by a grizzly bear, according to state game officials on Monday.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department stated in a written statement that both men were transferred to local hospitals, one by helicopter, following an encounter on Saturday afternoon that left them “blood-soaked.”
The agency stated, “Based on the early information, it appears this was a sudden, unexpected encounter with a grizzly bear.”
Kendell Cummings of Evanston and Brady Lowry of Cedar City, Utah were hunting and enjoying the outdoors in the Shoshone National Forest south of Cody with colleagues August Harrison and Orrin Jackson when they were attacked by a bear.
Kendall Cummings was left with a bloody wound. He underwent 60 staples in his head as well as extensive facial reconstructive surgery. Doctors had to suture significant lacerations on his left arm and leg, in addition to his right hand and right leg.
The two had just observed what they believed to be bear feces when they were attacked.
Lowry told Fox News, “Before you could even think or blink, a bear came racing out of the trees right in front of me.” It was giving me a severe thrashing.
Lowry had a broken arm that required six screws and bolts to fix.
Additionally, the bear bit him on the right thigh. During the attack, he rolled up into a ball for protection.
Then, Cummings yelled.
The bear attacked him, knocking him to the ground instantly.
Cummings even grabbed the bear by the ear before he was injured by the grizzly before he could use his bear spray.
“I grabbed him and pulled him violently,” he explained.
He told Cowboy State Daily, “I could hear when his fangs hit my skull, and I could feel when he bit down on my bones and they kind of crunched.”
Kendell Cummings, left, and Brady Lowry, right, were mauled by a grizzly bear while hiking on the South Fork in Wyoming.
Cummings stated, “I called out to Lowry to make sure he was okay, and I believe the bear heard me.” It circled back around and attacked me again.
After the bear ceased its attack, Cummings remained still to avoid attracting additional attention.
Lowry dialed 911 and contacted teammates Harrison and Jackson for assistance.
“He was completely covered in blood as he came down the hill,” Harrison recalled. Jackson and I took turns carrying him down to the field at the bottom.
Cummings was airlifted to a hospital, while Lowry was carried by ambulance to a trauma center in Billings, Montana.
Both will recuperate, but they will not be engaging in combat anytime soon.
Lowry indicates that Cummings saved his life.
Lowry stated, “I cannot even convey how glad I am for him.” “I do not know how I will repay him, I do not. I owe him my entire life.
There are severe puncture wounds and puncture holes. Jim Zeigler, a wrestling coach, reported that he received a number of staples in his head and also underwent cosmetic surgery on his cheek. They will not be engaging in a wrestling match for some time.
Cummings suffered 60 staples in his skull as well as plastic surgery for severe facial lacerations. Doctors had to suture significant lacerations on his left arm and leg, in addition to his right hand and right leg.
Lowry sustained a broken arm in addition to lacerations on his back, shoulders, right leg, and thigh.
“[Harrison and Jackson] are experiencing a great deal of emotional pain. Zeigler continued, “I don’t think we could even begin to convey what transpired when they had to go rescue a child, pull him out, and carry him out.”
Landowners and hunters in the region have recently reported an increase in bear activity at low elevations, leading wildlife officials to warn tourists to be vigilant.
According to Dan Smith, regional supervisor for the Wyoming Fish and Game Department, information from landowners and hunters indicate that there may be six to ten distinct bears traveling between agricultural fields and low elevation slopes in the area where the incident happened.
This is a tragic and awful scenario, and we wish the victims a swift and complete recovery.