Charging polar bear escape in Svalbard as man narrowly avoids attack in dramatic scene. During a ski trip, Rebecca Baack captured this amazing film footage, which shows the terrifying encounter as the man attempts to fend off the untamed beast.
The Svalbard Close Call
The guy, who is thought to be a hotel employee, used a flare rifle at midnight on April 27, 2025, to frighten away a polar bear that had wandered into the town of Pyramiden, which is situated on the Svalbard island. Unfortunately, as he fired the flare gun, the bear lunged directly at him.
Fearing for his life, the man dropped his revolver and ran for a nearby snowmobile. As the bear briefly followed him, he went on the snowmobile, switched it on, and hurried away in a desperate attempt to get away. Luckily, the bear soon sat down and stopped chasing.
A Near Miss for the Man
Witnessing the entire incident, Rebecca Baack was afraid for the man’s safety. “It was a huge relief to see him escape,” she recounted. I wish he had had backup, but thank goodness he left his snowmobile running and pointed in the right direction.”
Though the man initially appeared to be alone, he later found more protection by driving a pickup truck. Meanwhile, the polar bear loitered around the hotel, eating snacks from one of the snowmobiles before finally leaving.
Baack also noted that hotel staff worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of around 100 tourists who were inside, managing the situation until the bear finally wandered back toward the sea ice.
Polar Bears in Svalbard
Polar bears are common in Svalbard, with an estimated population of 3,000, which is more than the number of human residents in the area. The tourism agency Visit Svalbard advises visitors to be cautious and prepared for the possibility of an encounter with a polar bear, especially when leaving settlements.The organization draws attention to the risk of polar bear assaults, which can occur suddenly and without notice.
“Be accompanied by a local guide with a firearm when leaving the settlements,” advises Visit Svalbard.
The Effects of the Gathering
What transpired following the encounter between the man and the polar bear is still unclear. The man and the guests were obviously quite fortunate, though. The dangers posed by wildlife, particularly in remote Arctic regions, are starkly brought home by this occurrence.
Source: USA Today