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October 11, 2010 in Region
Bear mauling victim leaving Seattle hospital
Bellevue City Council member John Chelminiak describes being mauled by a black bear last month. He’s talking for the first time while still under treatment at Harborview Hospital in Seattle on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010.
(Full-size photo)
SEATTLE — The man mauled by a bear near Lake Wenatchee has recovered enough to leave a Seattle hospital.
A Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman says John Chelminiak is going home Monday.
Chelminiak is a Bellevue City Councilman who went to his vacation cabin with his family Sept. 17 and was walking dogs when he was attacked by a black bear.
He suffered severe injuries to his head and neck and has had five surgeries. Doctors were unable to save his left eye, but otherwise they say he should make a full recovery.
Watch John Chelminiak’s interview on the Today show.
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Shylock13 on October 11 at 3:42 p.m.
I am delighted that Mr. Chelminiak is alive and will make an almost complete recovery. I am saddened by his loss of an eye, but that should not prove to be a real problem, for everything the body has two of, it can do quite nicely with only one of. However, standard advice when one is attacked by a bear is NOT to run, but to go into a fetal position and play dead. Mr. Chelminiak beat the odds by fighting and running. Most who try that will not.