Injured young man rescued after bear attack on popular Seattle trail
Authorities indicated that the young man survived with minor injuries and that the area was temporarily closed as a preventive measure.
A teenager was taken to the hospital after being injured during a bear attack on a busy trail in Washington state.
The incident occurred in Mount Si, a popular hiking area located east of the Seattle metropolitan area, ABC News reported.
According to local authorities, the young man was walking with a group of friends when he was momentarily separated from the rest.
Shortly after, his companions heard screams coming from the path.
The young man managed to return to his group and was evacuated by rescuers
According to reports provided by rescue teams, the teenager managed to return on his own until he was reunited with his friends.
Authorities described his condition as partially ambulatory.
King County Search and Rescue teams responded to the scene and made the descent using an all-terrain vehicle before completing the evacuation on foot.
The young man was later taken to a hospital.
Officials indicated that he remained conscious, alert and with injuries considered minor.
During the incident, another member of the group suffered an ankle injury while leaving the area.
The authorities indicated that both young people will recover.
Authorities believe the bear reacted to the presence of cubs
Rescue teams indicated that one of the preliminary hypotheses is that the animal's behavior was related to the presence of bear cubs nearby.
As a preventive measure, the trail was temporarily closed while state authorities work to locate the animal and evaluate safety conditions.
Officials recalled that the presence of bears in the region is relatively common, although attacks on people are rare.
The authorities reiterated some basic measures for those who visit natural areas: maintain constant attention to the environment, properly store food and waste, avoid objects or products with intense odors, do not feed wild animals and do not run if an encounter with a bear occurs.
The closure of the trail also occurs during a period of high tourist influx in Seattle due to international events and the expected increase in visitors in the coming weeks.