Fair warning: Some of the accounts in this story are EXTREMELY GRAPHIC. The attack happened in 2011 but 65-year-old Wes Perkins still bears the scars of a terrifying encounter with a grizzly beast in the Alaskan mountains. iStock / Getty Images Plus / Donnie Rosie on Youtube. Mr Perkins was rushed back to nome and then to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. A team effort and incredible will power of a human to survive is what helped create this rescue and survival of epic proportions. Walking. As advised by Mr Stang, Mr Perkins buried his face in the snow to numb the pain. Wes was knocked off his feet as if a freight train had struck him. They then found the bear's tracks and kept looking for the animal, hoping to find it. Sort by manufacturer, model, year, price, location, sale date, and more. He was quoted in the interview with Anchorage Daily News: I had to dig stuff out of (my) airway to breathe, he wrote. So that will have to wait. I cooked for people in town, made sausage, breads, etc.I push myself hard. Norwegians Sebastian Plur Nilssen and Ludvig Fjeld had set out in July 2015 on a world-first attempt to kayak around Svalbard, an isolated archipelago between Norway and the North Pole. This grizzly bear attack happened in 2017 and went wildly viral for the photos of Sommer's wounds. I do everything else.'. He was quoted in the interview with Anchorage Daily News: "I had to dig stuff out of (my) airway to breathe," he wrote. The painkillers that he was given began to become addictive, Perkins said, but his family and friends supported his efforts to wean himself off: "I was on morphine, and opiates and methadone in my recovery. A fire chief who was savagely mauled by an eight-foot grizzly bear in Alaska has told how he had to claw debris out of his throat to survive. "Ripped out IV and feed tube by mistake a few times (in those dreams). with a video of the meetup being viewed more than 15 million times on TikTok. Both were badly mauled, the boy's face was gone much like the man in the pictures. The attack has now become the subject of a short documentary by filmmaker Donnie Rosie, who was in Alaska for another project when he found out about Perkins' story. After he was attacked last May, it was reported that he'd been taking pictures of the bear before it charged. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. Allena Hansen was mauled by a black bear on her ranch in the Sequoia Mountains, California, in 2008. Perkins, who is a trained paramedic, recalls the attack vividly. "Methadone bad. Lived In Morehead City NC, Chino Valley AZ, Prescott Valley AZ, Fort Lauderdale FL. At this point, Dan Stangs son starteed shooting at the grizzly bear, eventually killing it. He's not the man he once was, but he's still very appreciative to be alive. The Anchorage Daily News reported: "There is no gentle way to describe his condition. Interviewed by Youtuber Dannie Rose for. Filmmaker and YouTuber Dannie Rose released a short film about Perkins' experience. "The bear grabbed his face, bit it and ripped it off. Wes Perkins, 65, had his entire jaw ripped off by an eight-foot grizzly bear in Alaska in 2011 (Picture: Dannie Rose) A man who had half his face torn off by a bear has spoken out about how. And finally, staff at both the Providence Alaska Medical Center and Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage helped with continuing treatment. "[I] do most everything I used to do but since I cannot close my mouth, I cannot swim and it's hard to run or jog, as my jaw bounces because I lost so much muscle in my jaw but hell, those are small things in life. He pretty much single-handedly organized a rescue to lift his brother from the wilderness of the Kigluaik Mountains, about 30 miles east of this small community. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Stockley Center in Georgetown and Delaware Psychiatric Center in New Castle. But they are certainly not related." So I was lucky I was able to put myself through this at home. The horrific attack took place in the Alaskan wilderness in 2011. She initially swiped his head and then his shoulder causing some nasty injuries but not life threatening. Dan Stang had rolled him forward so that his injured face was buried in the snow to keep it numb, and radioed for immediate help. "I have never been really depressed that I can remember," Wes wrote. "I only had time to say, 'Oh s***!' There is no gentle way to describe his condition. 'I only had time to say, 'Oh s***!' Talking to filmmaker Donnie Rose for a YouTube short documentary, Mr Perkins said he remembers all details of the attack. 'I lost my tongue, jaw and all but a few teeth,' Wes Perkins told Newsweek about the grizzly bear attack in 2011. . But Perkins' family roots go deep here. But I got (my) gun 1/2 way off my back . He too survived, most of his injuries were wounds, on the torso, leg, etcetera. Immer wieder sorgen Bren-Attacken weltweit fr Schlagzeilen. Alexey was collecting crabs in the remote Kuril islands in eastern Russia when he was cornered by a group of brown bears including cubs in a pincer movement, according to reports. He is, however, already back to enjoying what both Alaska and Seattle offer in the non-work hours. But suddenly the beast rushed out of a hole and charged him, tearing the bottom half of his face off before being shot dead by his friend and his son. "Some think I was taking pictures," he wrote. It tore the whole front away with one punch. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Perkins couldn't speak legibly for several months, relying on writing to communicate. It is pure luck or a miracle, if you believe in such things, he is alive today. We saw it had been running. As they were regrouping, the Grizzly exploded toward them from behind- Fish and game said the bear covered 69 feet in 9 steps! Nine steps from 69 feet, according to Fish and Game. If hes alive now, hes going to make it. So then, in a few days, a squint of life. I could feel his teeth going deep into the flesh, and I knew it was serious. Wes still can't eat in the normal sense of the word. To survive, Mr Perkins instinctively removed the mud from his fresh wounds and he was then airlifted to receive medical care. Paramedic Wes Perkins, from Alaska, is lucky to be alive after going out on a bear hunt with two pals. I know if I lost consciousness, I would probably die. Fortunately, Kornak was able to fend off her attacker with a can of bear spray. He still couldn't see. The trio spotted the 8ft grizzly bear off in the distance but lost sight of the beast after tracking it for a while. According to the Alaska State Troopers, Perkins and two friends had been tracking the bear east of Nome-- located on the Seward Peninsula-- when the big grizzly charged the group.Perkins' companions shot and killed the animal during the attack. You're fine.' Terrie, in the kitchen nearby packaging freshly ground caribou meat as this interview takes place, only bobs her head in agreement. 171K views 1 year ago Wes Perkins shares his survival of a grisly bear attack in Council, Alaska, near Nome, Alaska. Mr Stang said in the short documentary that the bear also tried to charge at him before his son joined him in firing shots at it. The Russian suffered clinical death immediately after the attack but was resuscitated and his ear was sewn back on. ", The painkillers that he was given began to become addictive, Perkins said, but his family and friends supported his efforts to wean himself off: "I was on morphine, and opiates and methadone in my recovery. He still has a tube in his throat. He said he called on his radio transmission asking for anyone to help, and Perkins' brother answered. Related To Alice Perkins, Kelly Perkins, Mary Perkins, Rose Perkins. Alaskan Man Tells Story About Grizzly Bear Ripping Half His Face Off, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdI318uhVtY, Wes Perkins Bear Attack | Expanded Version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdI318uhVtY). 2. death_of_gnats 4 yr. ago. Protecting her two babies the bear launched an attack with Orr defending himself with bear spray but that didnt stop her. "I look back and the bear's on top of [Perkins]", Dan Stang told Rosie in the film. "Surgery on my face left my one good eye swollen shut," he wrote. I was lucky that I was able to learn how to talk again., Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. The Anchorage Daily News reported: There is no gentle way to describe his condition. So I spent a couple of months at home that fall putting myself through the Wes Perkins Opiate Withdrawal Clinic.. Wes wants everyone to be careful, and to remember wild animals are not your friends. Some think I was taking pictures, he wrote. However, as they tried to go up the hill towards the bear, they lost track of the animal which seemed to have disappeared. I had no time to do anything.". It's a mind boggling story and I personally cringe thinking about it all taking place. A tough life toughened them. For several months, Perkins could not speak and was only able tocommunicate by writing. '[I told him] Wesley you need to stay real still just keep your face in the snow.'. "Always was in good shape and active. ", Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. When the helicopter arrived Perkins said he was able to walk to it with help. While collecting samples near a stream in Montana, a bear mauled Kornak from behind. I could see images, then people. Here's more from theAnchorage Daily News. So when I stopped, I thought the bear was ahead of me. She ripped up, I think my arms broke, but legs are good, internal organs are good, eyes are good. According to Anchorage Daily News, "Wes Perkins is whole in body and still badly disfigured. This hasn't just been a long road just for Wes. 'I basically kept my airway open and had to dig the debris out of my airway, when I lost my tongue, jaw and all but a few teeth,' Perkins said. He still has a tube in his throat. So I stopped to take camera out of pocket and put it in my dash bag as I could shoot the gun. He was initially taken to a hospital in Nome and then to Seattle. Driving around the brush stand, Perkins stopped to rummage through his pack and get his camera for a keepsake photo of the scenery. 'So telling myself to function and never close my eyes or go unconscious was the main concentration.'. "Ace chopper pilot Ben Rowe saved his life," Nate said at the time, but Rowe was only one of the many who combined to save then 54-year-old Wes's life. James Wesley Perkins, 53. Wes actively works to encourage other survivors of animal attacks to make. A lot of people who get attacked never live to tell the story. They are not good or bad, they are simply wild animals, and that is something to be remembered. It's been described as one of the most horrific grizzly bear attacks in recorded history. I had no time to do anything. Perkins, who was nearly mauled to death by the grizzly's razor-like teeth, miraculously survived the brutal attack, and said in the video he 'remembers everything'. Lots of people from everywhere. FINISHING MOWER Attachments And Components Auction Results. When help arrived about an hour later, Mr Perkins was able to walk inside the helicopter himself. Perkins, who is a trained paramedic, recalls the attack vividly. PICTURED: Alaska mother, 24, and her one-year-old son mauled to death by polar bear near the entrance of elementary school in remote village, Hundreds of swimmers at a surf carnival flee the water at Manly Beach after a dolphin was attacked by a group of sharks near the shore. He explained: "I never lost consciousness. There was no airway unless I kept my head tilted to the side just right, Perkins said. His enthusiasm for discussion has certainly not waned.