Arizona teenager saved by brother after black bear barges into cabin and assaults him

A teenage boy was saved by his brother after a black bear barged into his cabin and left him with scratches throughout his face and arm – with the animal having a sit down on a settee on the household’s porch after the assault.

Brigham Hawkins, 15, was “just chilling” in one among two cabins on his household’s property in Alpine, Arizona, when the bear “walked in through the front door and swiped him across the head” on Thursday night, his mom Carol stated.

Ms Hawkins instructed Sky News’ US accomplice NBC News that Brigham has a “neurological disorder” and he or she believes he would have been killed if her different son Parker, 18, had not intervened.

The mom stated: “The front door was open to let the cool night air in.

“Brigham was watching YouTube and did not realise what was taking place.”

Ms Hawkin said her son “began screaming” during the attack, adding: “[The bear] received him on the nostril and the cheek after which went forward and received his brow and the highest of his head.”

Parker ran over from the opposite cabin within the household’s backyard after listening to the screams, Ms Hawkins stated.

She continued: “Parker at first thought it was a big dog of some kind.

“Then the bear noticed Parker and commenced to chase him. That gave Brigham time to slam the door shut in his cabin.”

Ms Hawkins added that Parker then managed to make it back to the other cabin as the bear followed him.

She continued: “[The bear] was simply pacing there for some time as we watched him by means of the window.

“Then he sat down on a couch on the porch and just looked around. It was insane.”

Ms Hawkins stated that whereas she dialled 911 and referred to as a neighbour for assist, her husband Shane waited for the bear to look away earlier than darting to the cabin the place Brigham was holed-up.

“He slammed the door in the bear’s face,” she stated.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the most recent information from the UK and all over the world by following Sky News

Tap right here

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), whose brokers arrived on the scene, stated at one stage throughout the household’s ordeal the bear entered Brigham’s cabin a second time earlier than “swiping at the victim’s arm”.

However, the bear was not besieging the cabins by the point the AZGFD brokers arrived.

“After arriving on scene, AZGFD wildlife officers were able to quickly locate and dispatch the bear,” the company stated in an announcement.

The bear was a male estimated to be three years outdated and his carcass will likely be examined for ailments, the AZGFD stated.

Ms Hawkins stated her son is “doing better” and has already obtained a spherical of rabies pictures as a precaution.

Reflecting on why the bear might have attacked, she stated: “He may have just been hungry… but that’s just not a normal way for a bear to behave.”

Read extra:
Bear alert in Japan after man discovered lifeless
Bear goes on rampage in Slovakia
Bear assaults safety guard in Colorado lodge

Ms Hawkins continued: “[Brigham] has a neurological disorder and would not have been able to get away from the bear.

“It took just a few miracles taking place on the similar time to save lots of him.”

She added: “This actually might have been rather a lot worse.

“We’re still in disbelief that this happened, but we’re also feeling very blessed.”

There have been 16 bear assaults on individuals in Arizona since 1990 – with two of them having been deadly, in line with the AZGFD.

The most up-to-date fatality occurred when a 66-year-old man was killed whereas consuming a cup of espresso within the woods in Prescott final 12 months.