San Diego Hiker Survives Grizzly Bear Attack At Glacier National Park

SAN DIEGO, CA — A San Diego man is recovering after being attacked and dragged by a grizzly bear while hiking at Glacier National Park in Montana.

Daniel Crago said the attack happened May 28 on the Grinnell Glacier Trail after he encountered two bears during a hike. According to a GoFundMe page created to support his recovery, Crago alerted the bears to his presence but was already too close when one of them charged.

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The bear bit Crago's arm and dragged him about 20 to 30 feet before running off, he said.

"I just kind of thought 'this is it.' It bit down on my arm, dragged me maybe 20 feet," Crago told CBS 8. "I kind of flipped, landed on my backside, opened my eyes, and the bear had continued running down the mountain."

A nearby hiker who was also a doctor helped stop the bleeding and stabilize Crago's injuries before he was airlifted to a hospital.

Another hiker made sounds to keep the bears from returning, while another hiker contacted emergency medical services via satellite and got a helicopter dispatched to their location.

Crago said he has undergone three surgeries and is expected to need additional procedures as he recovers.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover recovery-related expenses. Any funds raised beyond Crago's medical costs will be donated to the National Park Service, according to the page.

"Now, as I focus on healing, I am facing significant medical bills from the treatment and care I received," he wrote on the page. "The costs are overwhelming, and I am reaching out for help to cover these expenses so I can continue my recovery without the added stress of financial hardship."