"I Thought I Might Not Get Through This" Survivor Describes Bear Attack

ARCADIA, CA — A 54-year-old man said that he thought for a moment he was going to die as the massive animal held him by the neck on Monday. He spoke over the phone Tuesday from his hospital bed to KCAL9, describing the bear attack and his thoughts while hiking in the Angeles National Forest above Sierra Madre,

Richman stated that he experienced "a different type of fright" when he encountered a bear on the hiking path.

Authorities said the bear attack occurred around midday Monday near the Georgia's Cabin area in Angeles National Forest, around two miles north of Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park, which is in the 400 block of West Carter Avenue.

"All of a sudden I come across this bear standing on its hind legs, and it's probably maybe 60, 70 feet in front of me," Richman told Channel 9 from Methodist Hospital in Arcadia.

Richman stated that he yelled as loud as he could in hopes of scaring the bear off, but as he backed away, he encountered a second bear, leaving him trapped.

An attempt to run, Richman was startled by a second bear that grabbed him, first by the wrist and then on a leg.

"I pretty much right away felt its strength, and then it got me down on the ground," he said. "I was on my hands and knees and it had its mouth around my neck."

It was at that moment that Richman decided to remain quiet and perfectly still. Then, the bear released him, he said.

"There was a few moments there where I thought, you know, I might not get through this," he told the station.
Richman was able to run back into town, where a neighbor spotted him and called 911.

According to wildlife officials, the wilderness park and the Mount Wilson trail remained closed today as traps will be set in hopes of finding the attacking bear. If found, the animal will likely be put down, according to officials.