Anchorage, Alaska:
A teenager who survived a terrifying bear attack in the Alaskan wilderness was recovering in hospital on Monday.
Sam Gottsegen clearly bears the marks of his ordeal in the shape of long claw marks across his chest.
The attack on Saturday night in the Talkeetna Mountains north of Anchorage happened as the group was nearing the end of a 30-day course to learn how to survive in the wilderness.
The teens were at the stage of the course where they could try out their skills without adults around.
Gottsegen said he and his friends were wading through a river in single file when the person in front started screaming there was a bear.
"We all turned around and ran in the opposite direction," he said.
But Gottsegen wasn't fast enough to escape.
"It just took me down,"' the 17-year-old Denver resident said.
Then the bear left, only to return a moment later to continue mauling him and his other teenage friends.
When the minute-long attack ended, four teens, including Gottsegen, were injured. Three others were unhurt.
Authorities believe the bear was aggressive because it was with its cub. But Gottsegen said no one ever saw a cub.
The bear bit Gottsegen on the head and lashed out at the teen's arms and chest, puncturing a lung and breaking two ribs.
After the bear had gone, the teens set up a camp and tended to the injured, making good use of their survival skills.
They plugged a deep wound in Gottsegen's torso with a plastic trash bag secured with an elastic bandage.
They also activated the personal locator beacon they carried for emergencies.
Authorities received the signal around 9:30 pm on Saturday, and dispatched rescuers.
Alaska State Troopers Spokeswoman Megan Peters praised the students for the calm way that they dealt with the crisis.
"They came face to face with worst Alaska had to offer and they, they're able to say that they survived it," she said.
Sam Gottsegen clearly bears the marks of his ordeal in the shape of long claw marks across his chest.
The attack on Saturday night in the Talkeetna Mountains north of Anchorage happened as the group was nearing the end of a 30-day course to learn how to survive in the wilderness.
The teens were at the stage of the course where they could try out their skills without adults around.
Gottsegen said he and his friends were wading through a river in single file when the person in front started screaming there was a bear.
"We all turned around and ran in the opposite direction," he said.
But Gottsegen wasn't fast enough to escape.
"It just took me down,"' the 17-year-old Denver resident said.
Then the bear left, only to return a moment later to continue mauling him and his other teenage friends.
When the minute-long attack ended, four teens, including Gottsegen, were injured. Three others were unhurt.
Authorities believe the bear was aggressive because it was with its cub. But Gottsegen said no one ever saw a cub.
The bear bit Gottsegen on the head and lashed out at the teen's arms and chest, puncturing a lung and breaking two ribs.
After the bear had gone, the teens set up a camp and tended to the injured, making good use of their survival skills.
They plugged a deep wound in Gottsegen's torso with a plastic trash bag secured with an elastic bandage.
They also activated the personal locator beacon they carried for emergencies.
Authorities received the signal around 9:30 pm on Saturday, and dispatched rescuers.
Alaska State Troopers Spokeswoman Megan Peters praised the students for the calm way that they dealt with the crisis.
"They came face to face with worst Alaska had to offer and they, they're able to say that they survived it," she said.
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