gunsmith
member
this thread
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=195009&highlight=bear+attack
highlighted the danger of venturing into bear country unarmed.
We all know it is a rare occurence(SIC) but it is not safe to ignore it.
The following article does not say if mom carries now.
http://www.newschannel9.com/onset?id=10626&template=article.html&dateformat=%M+%e,%Y
(I am willing to bet it is still illegal to carry there)
For the first time, a woman, whose daughter died in a bear attack in Polk County, Tennessee nearly a year ago, is speaking out about what really happened. Susan Cenkus is talking about how she fought off the bear that attacked her son and how her family is healing from her daughter's untimely death. NewsChannel 9's Jessica Morris is the only television reporter to tell Susan Cenkus' story. To hear it from Susan, it's a story of grief and Grace. She said last April she thought she was going to die. She told the other campers to save her children and forget about her, but the mother, who was visiting from Ohio, lived to tell her story—one she said includes a God who is bigger than her tragedy.
“We happened to look up into the brush and we saw a bear, and at that point we just looked at each other and we said, 'We're going to leave,'” recalled Cenkus.
But the black bear at Chilhowee Campgrounds had other plans. Cenkus remembered last April like it was yesterday. The 13th was the last time she saw her 6-year old daughter, Elora Petrasek, alive.
“We were sitting beside the lake and she wanted to see the waterfall, and I wasn't feeling really well. And I said, 'Let's not go,' and she said, 'But I really want to go,'” recounted Cenkus.
They had no way of knowing a killer bear awaited them at Benton Falls.
“And there was the bear, and he had Luke. He had his paw on Luke.”
Preparing to die, she snatched away her son and fought the bear.
“There was no thinking. It was just action,” she said.
But in the excitement, Elora disappeared. Rescuers later found her lifeless body near the falls--mauled by the bear. Meanwhile, Susan and Luke were rushed to the hospital, both in critical condition, yet 11 months later completely healed. The brave mother now thanks God for her life and the time she got to spend with her precious little girl.
“She taught us so much in her short life, to love one another. Don't let the little things that stand between you and someone you care for--don't let those grow into big things because they really don't matter when it comes right down to it. It's each other. We matter to each other. You know, every day. She loved every person she ever met,” shared Cenkus as she laughed.
Cenkus said she won't let her fear keep her from visiting beautiful places, like Benton Falls. She said she's determined to go back.
Cenkus was in town speaking at an EMS training session, offering her gratitude to the rescue workers who saved her life.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=195009&highlight=bear+attack
highlighted the danger of venturing into bear country unarmed.
We all know it is a rare occurence(SIC) but it is not safe to ignore it.
The following article does not say if mom carries now.
http://www.newschannel9.com/onset?id=10626&template=article.html&dateformat=%M+%e,%Y
(I am willing to bet it is still illegal to carry there)
For the first time, a woman, whose daughter died in a bear attack in Polk County, Tennessee nearly a year ago, is speaking out about what really happened. Susan Cenkus is talking about how she fought off the bear that attacked her son and how her family is healing from her daughter's untimely death. NewsChannel 9's Jessica Morris is the only television reporter to tell Susan Cenkus' story. To hear it from Susan, it's a story of grief and Grace. She said last April she thought she was going to die. She told the other campers to save her children and forget about her, but the mother, who was visiting from Ohio, lived to tell her story—one she said includes a God who is bigger than her tragedy.
“We happened to look up into the brush and we saw a bear, and at that point we just looked at each other and we said, 'We're going to leave,'” recalled Cenkus.
But the black bear at Chilhowee Campgrounds had other plans. Cenkus remembered last April like it was yesterday. The 13th was the last time she saw her 6-year old daughter, Elora Petrasek, alive.
“We were sitting beside the lake and she wanted to see the waterfall, and I wasn't feeling really well. And I said, 'Let's not go,' and she said, 'But I really want to go,'” recounted Cenkus.
They had no way of knowing a killer bear awaited them at Benton Falls.
“And there was the bear, and he had Luke. He had his paw on Luke.”
Preparing to die, she snatched away her son and fought the bear.
“There was no thinking. It was just action,” she said.
But in the excitement, Elora disappeared. Rescuers later found her lifeless body near the falls--mauled by the bear. Meanwhile, Susan and Luke were rushed to the hospital, both in critical condition, yet 11 months later completely healed. The brave mother now thanks God for her life and the time she got to spend with her precious little girl.
“She taught us so much in her short life, to love one another. Don't let the little things that stand between you and someone you care for--don't let those grow into big things because they really don't matter when it comes right down to it. It's each other. We matter to each other. You know, every day. She loved every person she ever met,” shared Cenkus as she laughed.
Cenkus said she won't let her fear keep her from visiting beautiful places, like Benton Falls. She said she's determined to go back.
Cenkus was in town speaking at an EMS training session, offering her gratitude to the rescue workers who saved her life.
