Election Section

JUNEAU, Alaska — A Juneau man who was mauled by a grizzly bear Wednesday was reported in satisfactory condition after surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. 

Kenneth Horton, 52, was deer hunting on Admiralty Island, about 15 miles northwest of Juneau, when the attack occurred. Alaska State Troopers say Horton told them the entire incident lasted about three seconds. 

“He was walking along and was suddenly within 10 feet of a sow and a cub.  

They made eye contact and she was on him — boom — like that. One bite to the head, one bite to the shoulder and she was gone,” trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson said. 

The bear left deep lacerations and broke bones on the left side of Horton’s face, Wilkinson said. 

Coast Guard officials said they received a cell phone call from Horton at about 1:40 p.m. Horton told them he had been attacked by a bear and was suffering from severe head, face and shoulder wounds. 

The Coast Guard and troopers dispatched boats to the area, but before they arrived, Horton was rescued by a flightseeing helicopter operated by Coastal Helicopters. The helicopter was passing overhead just after the incident occurred, Wilkinson said. 

Horton was treated at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, then flown to Seattle. 

“He’s an extremely lucky individual to have received help as fast as he did. He was hurt pretty bad,” Wilkinson said.