Kendell Bybee Cummings

Kendell Bybee Cummings rescued Brady R. Lowry from an attacking bear, Cody, Wyoming, October 15, 2022. Lowry, 21, and Cummings, 19, college students and wrestling teammates, were on a mountain in the Shoshone National Forest when a grizzly bear came out of a nearby wooded area and attacked Lowry, striking him with its paws and knocking him to the ground. The bear rolled him down a slight decline and attacked him, biting Lowry’s left arm and fracturing it. From about 60 feet away Cummings moved to a point about 20 feet behind the bear as it continued the attack on Lowry. He shouted and threw rocks and sticks at the bear, which did not acknowledge his presence. Cummings ran up behind the bear and pulled on its ear and fur in an effort to disrupt its attack on Lowry. The bear swung its head around and Cummings ran, the bear following. Lowry left the scene to get help. The bear reached Cummings and tackled him to the ground and onto his back. The bear then attacked Cummings twice, biting him numerous times before it eventually walked away. Lowry, who had gone for help, and two friends, who were in the area, met up with Cummings as he descended the mountain. They walked to a road at the bottom of the mountain, with Cummings carried part of the way by the friends, and Lowry and Cummings were eventually taken to a hospital for treatment. Lowry sustained a fractured arm and puncture wounds to his body. Cummings sustained puncture wounds to his arms, legs, head, and face. Both were scarred and Lowry’s wrist continued to heal.