A bear seriously injured several students and a teacher during an attack on a trail in Canada. Two victims are in critical condition.

A bear attack Thursday in rural British Columbia, Canada, has shocked the community of Bella Coola. Eleven people, including children from a local school, were injured during a hike on a trail about 700 km northwest of Vancouver, according to several Canadian media outlets. Two victims are in critical condition and two others are seriously injured, the Canadian Press reported.

According to the mother of a 10-year-old schoolboy, her son came within inches of the animal: "He even felt its fur," she said. The child then managed to escape. A teacher accompanying the group intervened to protect the students. "He took the full brunt of it," explained Veronica Schooner. The teacher was airlifted to a hospital.

The "aggressive" animal is still being sought

The Nuxalk Nation, which administers the territory, described the bear as "aggressive" and asked residents to stay indoors and avoid the highway until the animal is captured. Local authorities also confirmed that the affected students attended the independent Acwsalcta school. In a Facebook post, the school stated, "Words are hard to find at such a difficult time."

In a statement, Nuxalk Nation Chief Samuel Schooner assured that "all those involved are receiving medical support" and that the priority remains "ensuring their safety." Experts note that bears become particularly aggressive as winter approaches, a period during which they seek to accumulate as much fat as possible before hibernation.