LUNENBURG COUNTY, Va. — A man from Virginia has tragically lost his life after a bear shot by one of his hunting companions fell on him, according to the state’s wildlife authorities.
The tragic incident took place on December 9 in Lunenburg County, located between the cities of Richmond and Danville, as stated by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
A group of hunters was in pursuit of the bear when it climbed up a tree. As they attempted to move away from the area, one of the hunters fired at the bear. Unfortunately, the animal fell directly onto another hunter who was about 10 feet away from the base of the tree.
The deceased has been identified as 58-year-old Lester C. Harvey from Phenix, Virginia. A fellow member of the hunting group started providing first aid to him as they rushed to get him to two different hospitals. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries on Friday, according to officials from the wildlife department.
An obituary for Harvey noted that he was a devoted family man, married with five children and eight grandchildren. He was also described as a self-employed contractor who had a profound love for the outdoors.
Incidents like this have occurred in the past as well. In 2018, a man in Alaska sustained severe injuries when his hunting partner shot a bear on a ridge. The bear then fell down a slope and struck him, additionally injuring him with rocks that were dislodged during the fall.
In another incident in 2019, a man in North Carolina was hurt when his partner shot a bear located in a tree. The bear fell and began to attack the hunter, leading both of them to fall off a cliff. The hunter was hospitalized, while the bear was later found deceased.
These events have sparked conversations about safety measures while hunting, emphasizing the need for caution in such perilous situations.