Imagine going to your backyard to grab a bowl and suddenly finding a fierce bear standing right in front of you—especially one ready to attack to protect its cub. Something similar happened to a 12-year-old boy in Washington, USA. The bear attacked him, but the boy did not lose his courage. He struck the bear in the eye with his thumb and tried to save himself.
In this terrifying incident, the boy sustained injuries but fought back. Robin later said that he didn't have many options at that moment. The situation had come down to a fight for survival: either fight or die.
Boy Goes for Fruit, Encounters Bear
According to reports from the New York Post, the incident occurred near the Washington-Canada border. 12-year-old Robin Westgate went to the backyard fruit orchard to grab a bowl, when he suddenly spotted a black bear. Both Robin and the bear were startled. However, this was no ordinary bear; she had her cub with her and was extremely protective. The bear lunged at Robin, striking him twice and leaving deep claw and tooth marks on his hip.
Bear Grabs Wrist, Boy Strikes Eye
During the attack, the bear clamped its jaws around Robin's wrist. Instead of panicking, the boy fought back fiercely. Robin recounted that he reached toward the bear's eye and jabbed his thumb hard into it. He stated that he had no other choice, as it was a do-or-die situation.
After attacking Robin, the mother bear charged toward his father, Noah. Seeing his son in danger, Noah decided to face the bear rather than back down. Noah punched the bear squarely in the face when it bit down on his hand, prompting the animal to finally retreat. Robin's sister, Riverly, also heard the screams and rushed to help.
Wildlife officials have since set traps to capture the bear as it continues to roam the area. The Westgate family now plans to keep bear spray readily available in their backyard. Following the incident, Robin expressed that while his fear of bears hasn't completely vanished, his confidence in himself has certainly grown.
'The Freelance' does not independently verify the authenticity of the claims made in this viral social media video. Video credits: Respective social media handle / Creator.
