Wilf Lloyd, grizzly bear attack survivor, describes ordeal

WilfLloyd, who was attacked last month by a grizzly near Fernie, B.C., and then shot by his hunting partner in the struggle, sayshe is recovering well.

The56-year-oldtaxidermist from Cranbook, B.C.,was on his annual family elk hunting trip with his son-in-law SkeetPodraskywhen a bear came out of the bush.

I heard a noise below me," he said. "And I just knelt down to pick it up and I heard a thud, and I looked up, the grizzlys eyes were locked right on me and he was full charge and he was about seven feet away.

• Fernie grizzly bear attack victim Wilf Lloyd in Calgary hospital

Lloyd said it all happened so fast.

I went to get up.I went to grab my gun and I yelled at Skeet, Bear!Bear! said Lloyd. He hit me in my chest and rolled me, and within a secondhe was on top of me.

Lloyd remembers the bear growling with its paws on his chest, knowing it was looking for his throat and face.

He's made a decision to come in on me. He brings his head down towards my face and I jam my whole left arm right into his mouth. And as he did that, he's starting to clamp down, and Skeet shot him, said Lloyd.

Lloyd and Podrasky believe the shot struck the 225-kilogram bear in the shoulder.

I could feel the vibration of the bullet, said Lloyd.

The shot caused the bear to release Lloyds arm, so he began trying to kick the bear away from himwhile screaming at Podrasky to shoot again.

It was during this struggle that Lloyd was shot in the leg.

Lloyd said the bear charged them repeatedly until it was shot to death.

• Hunters in grizzly attack should have used bear spray, expert says

I really feared for my life, said Lloyd. But after a while, you tell a story and you relive it every day and it gets a little easier.It gets a little more sensible, I guess.

As to whether or not the taxidermist wants to stuff the bear, Lloyd said that is atouchy subject. He would have to apply for a permit to stuff the bear and is undecided about pursuing that.