A San Diego man is recovering after surviving a grizzly bear attack while hiking in Montana’s Glacier National Park, an encounter he says he was fortunate to escape with his life.

Daniel Crago, an avid outdoorsman, was hiking along the Grinnell Glacier Trail on May 28 during what was supposed to be the final day of a weeklong vacation filled with outdoor adventures.

“My love for nature kind of started when I was young,” Crago said.

After more than 20 miles of hiking throughout the week, Crago was nearing the end of his trip with his friend when he encountered a bear cub near the trail.

“Something catches my attention off to the left. I look over and it was a smaller cub,” he recalled.

Moments later, he spotted a larger grizzly bear nearby.

“No more than 15 feet above on the hill and on the same snow patch was a larger grizzly bear,” Crago said.

Recognizing the danger, he tried to follow the standard guidance for bear encounters.

“Panic set in but I tried to stay calm and do as you’re told and taught to do when you see a bear, just alert the bear, let them know you’re there so you don’t frighten them,” he said.

The situation escalated almost immediately.

“As soon as we made eye contact, it charged at me,” Crago said. “It took kind of two steps and leaped at me, open arms and a roar. I threw my arm up in self-defense to protect my face, and thankfully that’s what it bit.”

The attack unfolded in seconds, but the experience left a lasting impact.

“As soon as it started running at me, the thought of ‘this is it’ went through my mind,” Crago said, becoming emotional as he recounted the moment.

The bear dragged him about 20 feet before leaving him in the snow.

Fortunately, two nearby hikers came to his aid. One of them was a doctor, who immediately began providing medical assistance until emergency responders arrived.

Crago was airlifted to a hospital, where he has undergone multiple surgeries and faces at least one more procedure as he continues his recovery.

The injuries were severe.

“Thankfully it missed the major artery, missed the major nerves in the arm so I can still move my fingers a little bit, can still feel all of them,” Crago said. “But the forearm was completely open, and both bones completely broken. There was some bone loss.”

Despite the physical and emotional trauma, Crago says he is lucky to be alive. The encounter has also not diminished his appreciation for the outdoors.

“I still love the outdoors, and it’s their environment and we’re lucky to share it,” Crago said.

According to research published in the scientific journal Nature, most people survive grizzly bear attacks, with a little more than 14% proving fatal. Still, Crago considers himself fortunate to be alive and optimistic that he will eventually make a full recovery.

A fundraiser set up to help cover the cost of his surgeries has nearly reached its goal. Crago has said that any money raised beyond what is needed for his medical expenses will be donated to the National Park Service.

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