Victim of bear attack leaves hospital
A woman who was mauled by a bear in rural Kern County last week was released from a hospital, health officials said Monday.
The injuries suffered by Allena Hansen, 56, were described in a news conference called by her son, Alec Newman, to thank firefighters, paramedics, helicopter pilots and doctors who helped his mother.
“She suffered very extensive injuries to her face while sparing her vital structures,” said Dr. Kimberly Lee, one of the two surgeons who repaired the injuries at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
“Her forehead-scalp was completely hanging off to the side, and she had an indentation of her bone where the bear’s claw tore through her face,” Lee said.
Hansen was attacked July 22 while walking with her two dogs on her property in the Piute area, near the community of Caliente, about 85 miles north of Los Angeles.
Despite her injuries she managed to drive to a fire station and get help and was later flown to L.A.
Authorities said DNA tests of saliva on Hansen’s shirt pointed to a black bear.
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