Joe Pendry, a 63-year-old man, utilized his boxing skills to defend himself during a vicious encounter with a mother grizzly bear in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. While hunting elk near Fort Steele, just northeast of Cranbrook on October 2, Pendry came face to face with the bear and her two cubs.
Despite shooting the charging bear in the leg, the animal persisted in its attack. Pendry resorted to punching and even biting the bear’s ear in a desperate bid for survival. The violent encounter resulted in severe injuries, including torn lips and scalp, loss of a finger, and multiple broken bones. Pendry continued to fight back, repeatedly striking the bear’s nose with his boxing prowess, but the animal’s aggression escalated.
At one point, Pendry’s head was inside the bear’s mouth, leading to further injuries to his face and scalp. Despite sustaining a broken nose, cheekbones, arms, and ribs, Pendry managed to fend off the bear, eventually calling for help and being airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital for extensive surgeries.
The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service determined that a dead grizzly bear found in the area days after the attack was responsible for the incident. The bear’s identity was confirmed through DNA analysis. Pendry’s wife, Janice, mentioned that her husband’s boxing and outdoor hunting experience played a crucial role in his survival.
While Pendry faces a long road to recovery and is grappling with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, his wife highlighted the emotional toll the incident has taken on their family. Despite the challenges ahead, Pendry’s fighting spirit and the support of his loved ones remain crucial as he navigates the aftermath of the harrowing bear attack.
