Polish Hiker Injured Fleeing Bear Mother in Slovakia's Kwaczańska Valley

In brief

• A 26-year-old Polish tourist was injured in Slovakia's Kwaczańska Valley on 25 October.
• He fell while fleeing a female bear with cubs near the red trail.
• Slovak mountain rescuers gave first aid and took him to hospital in Liptovský Mikuláš.

Fall during escape on a Tatra trail

The incident happened on Sunday, 25 October, in the Kwaczańska Valley in Slovakia. A group of tourists walking the red trail spotted a female bear with young close to the route (Akcja ratowników na Słowacji. Polak ranny podczas ucieczki przed niedźwiedziem – RMF24) (Uciekał przed niedźwiedzicą z młodymi. 26-letni Polak trafił do szpitala – Onet). Wanting to avoid a direct encounter, the hikers decided to move away quickly (Turysta z Polski uciekał przed niedźwiedzicą. Trafił do szpitala – Wirtualna Polska).

During the retreat, a 26-year-old Polish man tripped and fell, injuring his arm (Niedźwiedzica z młodymi przy czerwonym szlaku. Polak trafił do szpitala – Fakt). Slovak mountain rescuers, who said they received the alert around noon, were dispatched to the scene (Polski turysta ranny w Tatrach. Uciekał przed niedźwiedziem – TVN24). Teams from the Horská Záchranná Služba base in the Western Tatras, together with a lavina prevention centre, reached him and gave first aid.

Hospital transfer

Rescuers transported the injured tourist to the hospital in Liptovský Mikuláš. Reports did not specify the severity of the arm injury beyond describing it as an injury.

Encounters with bears on mountain trails in the region are not unusual. In similar cases, rescuers typically advise keeping distance and not running, since sudden movement can provoke animals or cause falls on uneven ground.