A brave man cut off his own arm when a bear clamped its teeth around it and refused to let go.
The 32-year-old Swiss man was volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary when the horror unfolded yesterday (25 Jan).
He reached into the Asian black bear’s cage to place food on a tray when the animal pounced.
After it sunk its teeth into his right arm, he tried to free himself with all his might.
But the bear refused to let go.
Luckily, he was carrying a pocket knife, which he courageously used to sever his limb below the elbow.
Bystanders gave him first aid before taking him from the scene in Mueang Ngai, Thailand, to a hospital in nearby Chiang Dao.
He was later transferred to a private facility in Chiang Mai.
Local media report that he will have an operation, but it is not clear if surgeons will be able to reattach the crushed limb.
Locals showered him with praise.
Chonticha said: “His heart is truly kind.
“He was willing to amputate his own arm, but he did not harm the animal.”
The bear in question was rescued in 2013 after getting lost outside the forest.
It was taken to a national park before being transferred to the wildlife sanctuary.
The injured Swiss man’s name is withheld in local reports.
The Asian black bear is a vulnerable species due to shrinking forests, poaching, and other threats.
Although usually shy, it is more aggressive towards humans than the Eurasian brown bear or the American black bear.
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