CNN Live Stream: A Man's Near-Death Encounter with a Brown Bear in Alaska

Survivor's Tale from the Alaskan Wilderness

A man was nearly mauled to death by a brown bear while hiking in the Alaskan wilderness with his father earlier this week. Tyler Johnson, 32, was hiking off-trail Saturday on the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska on a hunting trip with his father when they encountered a brown bear. Suddenly, they were in an open area – and they were at least two miles from the nearest road, he said. “It was a growl and then an immediate charge,” Johnson told CNN Wednesday, saying it happened in about four seconds.

The Fight for Survival

The bear had been startled by their appearance and initially rushed toward his father, Johnson said. As the bear slammed Johnson to the ground and bit his leg, he drew his 10mm pistol and emptied the clip into the bear, accidentally shooting a bullet through his own calf. “Dad, I shot myself,” Johnson vividly described how bears put their all into each move they make and how they continue moving until their last breath.

• Both father and son shot at the bear, ultimately killing it.
• Immediately after the attack, they tried to get the wound under control.
• His father, Chris Johnson, rigged a tourniquet right below Johnson’s knee.
• After first aid, they contacted emergency services for rescue.

Rescue and Recovery

Chris Johnson, an Alaska State Trooper with over 30 years of experience, helped save his son’s life. Johnson documented the aftermath while waiting for rescue, using techniques to manage pain. “It’s those little things that try to help you through a hard moment,” he said about the support from his father. When rescue officials arrived, they loaded Johnson onto a tarp and transported him to a hospital in Anchorage.

In recovery, Johnson reflected on the attack and learned that a bear cub was found in the area by troopers. Johnson is now recovering without surgery and is set to return to Austin for a new job soon.