Bear Mauling Victim Says Crocs May Have Saved Her Life

June 15, 2012|By Christine Kim | Channel 2 News

Courtesy Tammy Anthony

EAGLE RIVER, Alaska — A woman is recovering after being mauled by a bear Monday night that dragged her by the foot -- until her Croc shoe came off -- when she and her husband were camping at the Eagle River campground.

Mike and Tammy Anthony said they went for a walk on a trail leading to the river about 7:30 p.m. Monday when Mike saw bear prints in a sandy area. Mike said they hadn't seen any bear signs until he saw the prints, just before the bear attacked Tammy.

"I was going to tell him it's time to turn back and we had heard it growl in the brush and she did her charge," Tammy Anthony said. "And I screamed and ran maybe 20 feet from him and she turned around and went back to her cubs."

Anthony thought the attack ended with the charge, before the bear returned.

"And I thought, 'Oh God, it's over,' and [Mike] goes, 'Come, come to me,'" Anthony said. "And I heard [the bear] through the brush and when I fell, I had just enough time to look behind me and see her coming towards me."

The bear then bit Anthony's foot, briefly dragging her across the ground.

"From then I don't remember a whole lot but it happened very quickly," Anthony said. "I got flipped around a few times and then when I was able to look back, she had a hold of my foot and yanked [the Croc] out and then she took off."

Tammy and Mike said if Tammy's shoe hadn't come off, her injuries would have been much more severe. The bear bit her in the foot and Tammy has some bruising and scratches on her body from the attack. Tammy said she knows she's lucky to be alive.

"It's a double whammy. I think [the cros are] the reason I tripped in the first place, but it's nice they came off and saved my foot, so im hoping Crocs will hear the story and give me another pai," laughed Tammy.

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