Gary Richmond helped victims of a bear attack, Fort Nelson, British Columbia, August 14, 1997. Patti R. McConnell, 37, and her son, Kelly, 13, were on an elevated boardwalk in a wooded area of a provincial park when they saw a black bear feeding nearby. The 218-pound male bear suddenly charged onto the walk, set upon Ms. McConnell, and began to maul her. Shouting, Kelly approached the bear and kicked it, then obtained a branch and struck the bear repeatedly about the head and nose. The bear turned on Kelly, taking him to the walk and inflicting numerous wounds. Raymond C. Kitchen, 56, who had been visiting the park, arrived at the scene and, shouting, fought the bear with a stick. The bear then turned on him, taking him to the ground about 20 feet from where Kelly and his mother lay immobilized by their wounds. Other park visitors arrived and attempted to stop the bear’s mauling of Kitchen, which was fatal. One of them left for help, and others responded to Kelly and Ms. McConnell. Another park visitor, Richmond, 46, engineering geologist, joined them and helped apply first-aid efforts, the bear remaining nearby. Unbeknownst to them, the bear left Kitchen and approached, and it charged the boardwalk again. They chased it away. The bear left the immediate area but attacked and mauled a fourth victim before it was felled by firearm. Ms. McConnell died of her injuries, and Kelly required three weeks’ hospitalization for treatment of his wounds, which included several broken bones and severe lacerations.
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