And if you're Wes Perkins, if you can say that after what he's been through, it is saying something. Some think I was taking pictures, he wrote. What followed after it burst from a snow cave has been an experience he couldn't imagine in his worst nightmares. Wesley Perkins, 54, an experienced hunter and former . Wes Perkins, 65, had his entire jaw ripped off by an eight-foot grizzly bear in Alaska in 2011 (Picture: Dannie Rose) A man who had half his face torn off by a bear has spoken out about how. Perkins, a former fire chief for the city of Nome in Alaska, told Newsweek that he managed to stay alert during the near deadly attack. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. They are not good or bad, they are simply wild animals, and that is something to be remembered. And probably worst of all, for a man who always loved to talk, he is now hard to understand because he speaks with only half a tongue.. Perkins, who is a trained paramedic, recalls the attack vividly. Withdrawal from the methadone, he said, might have been the worst part of his long and continuing ordeal. He told Newsweek: "I basically kept my airway open and had to dig the debris out of my airway, when I lost my tongue, jaw and all but a few teeth. Wes wrote that was not the case. "Mom -- born here, raised here," Wes wrote. Anyone who thinks the bears are our friends, think again. The Russian suffered clinical death immediately after the attack but was resuscitated and his ear was sewn back on. He was nauseous all the time. "I only had time to say, 'Oh s***!' There is no gentle way to describe his condition. 'We went up and towards it and it disappeared. . Doctors had to use part of his fibula to create a jaw to replace what the bear ripped off of his face. Not sure there is an animal on earth more terrifying than a grizzly bear. Withdrawal left him either freezing or sweating. 'I lost my tongue, jaw and all but a few teeth,' Wes Perkins told Newsweek about the grizzly bear attack in 2011. . When I turned around, the bear was that close. Published: Nov. 27, 2021 at 12:28 AM CST area 125 connections a. I know if I lost consciousness, I would probably die. Doctors had to amputate one of Alexeys legs because of the severity of his injuries. And probably worst of all, for a man who always loved to talk, he is now hard to understand because he speaks with only half a tongue. Wes Perkins was out on a hunting trip in the Alaskan mountains in May 2011 when he came across a huge eight-foot grizzly bear. The story and what are apparently the photos resulting from a bear attack are hard to look at, hard to think about, and hard to imagine. So lots of support for sure. In 2011, Perkins had his face ripped off by a grizzly bear in what has been described as one of the most horrific attacks on record. So I stopped to take camera out of pocket and put it in my dash bag as I could shoot the gun. Wes Perkins, 65, who lost his teeth, tongue and jaw during the 2011 attack, said he and two friends were driving around a hill while tracking the 'nice size bear'. Many times.". So I was lucky I was able to put myself through this at home. The extent of his injuries led doctors to tell him that he may never be able to eat or drink via his mouth again. Do lots of walking in Seattle when we are there. She slammed down on top of me and bit my shoulder and arms again, Orr wrote in a Facebook post. "I have done lots of things inside. It was a big bite.". He said in Nome he wanted to set the record straight on something. I would not get 69 feet from a bear in the zoo. Perkins, who was nearly mauled to death by the grizzly's razor-like teeth, miraculously survived the brutal attack, and said in the video he 'remembers everything'. Page 1 of 1. He tried to punch the bear but it then bit his arm. She said I can't leave hospital until I can climb stairs. I don't sit in front of the TV. ", Since then, others have contacted Perkins for help and advice. The tracks were impressive and showed that the bear was walking and running at various points along the creek. The bear immediately launched an attack, lifting Brooke off his feet and tearing into him. And probably worst of all, for a man who always loved to talk, he is now hard to understand because he speaks with only half a tongue.". wes perkins grizzly video. Wes is related to John D Perkins and Robert Stevens Perkins as well as 2 additional people. His left eye, which sees only light and dark, weeps constantly. 'I was lucky enough and able to walk, with their help, into the helicopter.'. I had no time to do anything.. The day I left the hospital they told me I was addicted or dependent on opiates. "Titanium plate on both cheeks and a titanium rib around the jaw bone," he wrote. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Wes Perkins lost his teeth, tongue and jaw in the terrifying 2011 attack in Alaska, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Apache Junction dog attacked by coyote, security cameras reveal. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Todd Orr managed to survive not one but two savage maulings while he was out hiking in Montana in October 2016. He pretty much single-handedly organized a rescue to lift his brother from the wilderness of the Kigluaik Mountains, about 30 miles east of this small community. He is on a liquid diet. My epiglottis (was) not working, but I can swallow and it's getting to my stomach.". They wanted help if I was willing to help give them some direction as to what may happen. He and a friend were hunting in the backcountry in Montana when they unexpectedly walked up on a grizzly feeding on a carcass. After his story made headlines earlier this week, a Montana TV station went to the hospital to talk to him about the experience. "I only had time to say, 'Oh shit!' I have a few issues sometimes with talking, as most of my damage was facial, lower jaw, but most understand me if I slow down and do not get excited, Perkins said. He too had mostly facial damage, but did not lose eyesight, or his jaw, lower chin, like I did. Big bear.". He still has a tube in his throat. Wes Perkins, a 65-year-old former fire chief, not only lived to tell the tale, but wants to help anyone else who has gone through something similar. Privacy Policy. She underwent a four-hour operation to remove bone fragments and clean wounds to her brain and had metal plates and screws inserted into her skull. Could not get out much. This 13 year old 8 foot tall boar was in the prime of his life meaning that he was an efficient killer. What I [am] able to do is let them know that it takes stages, Mr Perkins says in the documentary about the family of a survivor who reached out to him. The attack has now become the subject of a short documentary by filmmaker Donnie Rosie, who was in Alaska for another project when he found out about Perkins' story. I cooked for people in town, made sausage, breads, etc.I push myself hard. View our online Press Pack. James Wesley Perkins, 53. His facial reconstruction required titantium plates in both cheeks and a titanium jawbone. It's hard to imagine the recovery, and the person has no idea what to expect or how long the process will be. (But) outside of Harborview, on a fence, I would hang the cane, everyday walk farther from it. Wes still hopes to improve his speech. I have a good life, lots of people have it far worse than I.". While they were out searching for the remains Brooke became separated from his pals and eventually discovered the remains but found that a bear had got there first. Extraordinary and incredible are the only two words fitting enough to describe the miracle that happened. He has taken to trying to come up with the ultimate in smoothies. "When the bear attacked me it just grabbed me by the ears and bit into my face and took me down," Hansen told the Independent in 2020. He left the ADN in 2015. many who combined to save then 54-year-old Wes's life, Anne Ver Hoef, the snowshoer of Iditarod Trail Invitational fame. She suffered two fractures and severe lacerations on her head, neck, and back, according to a GoFundMe page. I could sit home & do nothing and feel sorry, but I have always helped people, not needed help. I just walked out three miles, now I got to go to the hospital, so be safe out there. Interviewed by Youtuber Dannie Rose for a short film released last month, Mr Perkins, a former fire chief in the city of Nome, recounted the attack in detail. Perkins spent the next four months in hospital, undergoing numerous operations to repair the damage done by the bear. A tough life toughened them. He quickly began to spin his rifle around his shoulders and made it about half way before the bear intercepted his defensive actions. . However, as they tried to go up the hill towards the bear, they lost track of the animal which seemed to have disappeared. I had no time to do anything.". Nine steps from 69 feet, according to Fish and Game. "Just wondered, 'Where am I?' Perkins stepped from his mobile and looked around to see if he could pick up the bear tracks in the snow once again. 2022 Anchorage Daily News. "I had a camera in my pocket, snowgo jacket. As soon as the surgery is over, I would love to go back to work. Eventually we went around the hill and found the tracks and we were tracking the bear down,' he said. I had tremendous family and friend support. That was about the end of September. As he flew, others were rolling into action, too. They shot the 8-foot-tall, 13-year-old grizzly bear off of Perkins, which was the first action made that lead to survival of Wes. Despite surviving the attack, he was left with permanent damage as he still has issues talking, eating and drinking. Unbeknownst to Perkins he had inadvertently driven past the giant brown bear, now hidden in a snow cave about seventy feet behind him. And finally, staff at both the Providence Alaska Medical Center and Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage helped with continuing treatment. The bear charged at Mr Perkins, causing him to lose his teeth, tongue and jaw, before it was subdued and eventually killed by Mr Stang and his son. Mr Perkins was rushed back to nome and then to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Hunting party shot and killed the animal for a final answer sort by,. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. brain zaps when falling asleep; mini husbilar till salu amsterdam. Wesley was conscious,' he said. When I turned around, the bear was that close. I was lucky enough that I was able to get up, with their help, and walk into the helicopter. 05/18/2011. A team effort and incredible will power of a human to survive is what helped create this rescue and survival of epic proportions. He nearly lost his life as essentially half of his face was ripped off by a big brown bear. Wes Perkins, 65, was on a hunting trip with his friend Dan Stang and his pal's son Edward. "I did not know the bear was 69 feet away in a snow cave. "I turned and saw the bear, full charge," Perkins told Anchorage Daily News around a year after the attack. I started driving in April.". "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. More than four months after the bear attack, Wes was finally well enough to get around on his own, but his treatment was far from over. "Got my EMT II recertification in May back," he wrote. He was initially taken to a hospital in Nome and then to Seattle. It is getting better. Whatever the hell they did, they did a fine job. 'I was getting wet from the snow and starting to get cold,' Perkins, who waited in for nearly an hour before help arrived, said. Wes is not letting this hold him back. It's been a long road for her and the kids, too. Few things are more terrifying than the prospect of being attacked by a bear in the Alaskan wilderness. "I basically kept my airway open and had to dig the debris out of my airway, when I lost my tongue, jaw and all but a few teeth," Perkins told Newsweek. A man who had half of his face ripped off by a bear says he had to dig mud out of his airway so he could breathe. He still has a tube in his throat. Dan Stang said that he immediately grabbed his gun and started shooting the bear. Continue under your own discretion. "I have 'Speak It' (software) on my phone and Ipad," he said, "but if I do not try to talk, I will never get better." As he flew, others were rolling into action, too. I want to go back to doing something. Even as the Stangs began life-saving first aid, they were radioing for help from Nome, a community far from anywhere at the tip of the Seward Peninsula jutting into the sea closer to Russia than Anchorage, the urban hub of the 49th state. Big bear.". NOME -- Almost a year and a half after the bear attack, after 26 surgeries and more than a $1 million in medical expenses, Wes Perkins is whole in body and still badly disfigured. Filmmaker and YouTuber Dannie Rose released a short film about Perkins' experience. They shot the 8-foot-tall, 13-year-old grizzly boar off of Perkins. iStock / Getty Images Plus / Donnie Rosie on Youtube. He is, however, already back to enjoying what both Alaska and Seattle offer in the non-work hours. "I started spooning liquid in back of my throat as it would get so dry. "So basically my face was ripped off.". According to the Alaska State Troopers, Perkins and two friends had been tracking the bear east of Nome-- located on the Seward Peninsula-- when the big grizzly charged the group.Perkins' companions shot and killed the animal during the attack. While bear attacks on humans are relatively rare they can be particularly vicious, with the powerful animals able to smash skulls, pulp faces and skin their victims alive. 'I had no airway unless I kept my head tilted to the side just right,' Perkins said. Mr Perkins also said that while his own journey has not been easy, he continues to see improvements and reach milestones even a decade after the attack. Dan Stang had rolled him forward so that his injured face was buried in the snow to keep it numb, and radioed for immediate help. Grizzly Bear takes Shotgun Blast at point-blank range. This incident took place in 2016 on April 15th. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He explained: "I never lost consciousness. Perkins said: 'I do what I can to pay it forward, and have always had a positive attitude. But suddenly the beast rushed out of a hole and charged him, tearing the bottom half of his face off before being shot dead by his friend and his son.

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