- Brigham Hawkins, 15, was mauled by a black bear at his family’s vacation cabin
- The bear entered through an open door in the cabin in the Apache National Forest
- Brigham’s condition prevents him from moving quickly, but his brother saved him
A black bear mauled a teenage boy with a rare neurological disorder after walking through an open door into an Arizona vacation home.
Brigham Hawkins, 15, was blindsided by the predator, which snuck in while he was relaxing at the retreat in the Apache National Forest.
His family says he accidentally left the cabin door open, allowing the animal to enter.
Brigham’s rare neurological condition prevents him from moving quickly, so he had little hope of defending himself against the three-year-old bear.
Brigham Hawkins, 15, was blindsided by the predator, which snuck in while he was relaxing at the retreat in the Apache National Forest.
Carol said he was watching videos on YouTube with the back door open when the black bear crawled in and clawed at his face from behind.
“He didn’t realize it because it came from behind, and it reached over and swiped at his face twice,” Carol said. Family AZ.
“I grabbed him on the nose and the cheek and then went ahead and grabbed his forehead and the top of his head.”
Carol said the bear left the cabin after the first sweep, but then returned to make a second attack.
Fortunately, Brigham’s brother Parker was outside nearby and heard him scream. He ran to the cabin and was able to chase the bear away.
Brigham’s rare neurological condition prevents him from moving quickly, so he had little hope of defending himself against the three-year-old bear
His mother, Carol Hawkins, said the family has vacationed at the cottage off Blue River Road for years and she never thought something like this could happen. (Pictured: Arizona’s Apache National Forest, where the bear attack occurred)
Shawn Wagner, law enforcement supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said Parker likely saved his brother’s life.
“Thanks to the quick response of his brother and his family, they were able to distract the bear from what could very easily have turned into a real tragedy in just a few seconds,” he told AZ Family.
Officials were also called to the scene, where they located and killed the bear.
His body has been taken to the state health laboratory where it will be tested for rabies.
Brigham was taken to hospital where his wounds were treated and he was given a rabies vaccine as a precaution. He is expected to make a full recovery.
“Never in our wildest dreams did we think (a bear) would come into the house,” Brigham’s mother, Carol Hawkins (pictured), told AZ Family
“Everyone who came to help him, he was thanked so much and he’s handling it well. And he will be fine,” his mother told AZ Family.
Wagner said the incident is only the 16th bear attack on humans in Arizona since 1990, and of those attacks, only two were fatal.
“Having a seizure is extremely rare,” he said.
Arizona Game and Fish Department advises people vacationing in areas where bears also live to be alert to their surroundings.
Officials recommend safely storing food or anything that could attract a bear, and avoiding leaving residue in tents or grills.
The department also recommends setting up camps outside of places where bears usually forage, such as lakes and other bodies of water.
They recommend walking in groups rather than alone, making noise and avoiding wearing scents that could attract bears, such as lotions, scented deodorants or perfume.
If you encounter a bear, back away slowly while maintaining eye contact – don’t run.
Officials recommend making yourself look as big as possible when a bear approaches by flapping your arms or pulling your shirt higher than your head.
If an attack occurs, the department recommends throwing items, yelling and fighting back.