Rescuers including a wildlife protection specialist rushed to the scene and the bear started to attack the group. Picture: Vostokmedia

WARNING: garphic content!



The mother-of-two, a post office worker, was attacked by the bear when she was collecting birch sap in forests near Tynda, in Amur region. Her dog started to bark, sensing the danger.

The wild animal then attacked the dog and her, as her unnamed friend escaped to alert the emergency services. The bear evidently thought the woman was dead and sought to bury her and hide its prey, apparently saving its next meal.

Rescuers including a wildlife protection specialist rushed to the scene and the bear started to attack the group. They shot the bear, a four year old female.

Then they noticed the woman's hand jutting out from under a pile of leaves. They cleared the foliage and found Natalya alive and conscious, though seriously injured.

Dramatic pictures showed the woman - covered in blood and with claw injuries visible on her arm - the moment she was rescued, and the dead bear. Picture: Tatyana Nikolayeva, Teleport2001, Vostokmedia

'Have you killed the bear?' she asked.

She suffered severe injuries to her head and thigh, and is in deep shock. The bear clawed at her hair and skin, said one report. She was rushed to Tynda hospital where doctors said she is in a 'severe' condition.

Dramatic pictures showed the woman - covered in blood and with claw injuries visible on her arm - the moment she was rescued, and the dead bear. Her two adult children are at the hospital, said local reports.