Three British tourists were sheltered from bear attacks after a selfless shepherd offered to take them in for the night.
The young Brits had reportedly been exploring a forest by bicycle and pitched their tent by the roadside as darkness fell on the area.
Semih Gok, a shepherd who had been grazing his animals nearby, became concerned about their welfare after recent reports of bears roaming the reserve.
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The hospitable Turkish herder took them in, giving them food, warmth and shelter from the creatures prowling outside.
In footage of the touching moment, the relieved Brits are seen sitting around a stove laden with traditionally cooked Turkish food.
Working through the language barrier, the Brits grin from ear to ear as the shepherd asks them where they’re from, to which they all reply: “England, England.”
He is then seen standing around a fire with two of the men as they prepare tea on the flames before heading back inside to share molasses.
Semih is said to have stumbled on the Brits-in-need in Şenkaya in Turkey’s Erzincan Province, where there have been a number of bear attacks over the years.
In 2023, a 16-year-old shepherd boy was attacked while grazing his animals in the middle of the forest.
He said the creature was lunging at him to attack, but he managed to escape by punching it.
The boy told local media: “At that moment, I hugged it and then punched it. The bear fell on me, let go of me, and ran away.”
In 2022, another shepherd was killed during an altercation with one of the powerful creatures in the same area, according to local reports.
A decade earlier, a 62-year-old man was reportedly hospitalised after suffering wounds to his head, chest and leg following an attack.
At the time, the village chief said another local had been set on a week prior.
He said: “Bear attacks have started. We are becoming uneasy. We expect the authorities to take the necessary precautions. The fact that two people in our village were attacked by bears within a week has frightened us.”
The area is home to the Eurasian brown bear, which is typically shy and avoidant of humans.
But as a large, powerful creature, it can be deadly if surprised, cornered, or provoked.
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