A grizzly bear attacked a group of elementary school students and teachers Thursday afternoon on a walking trail near Highway 20 in Bella Coola, British Columbia, leaving 11 people injured, some critically, local and First Nations authorities say.

The bear confronted a class from Acwsalcta School, an independent institution operated by the Nuxalk Nation, while they were on a nature walk. According to officials with British Columbia Emergency Health Services, two people were left in critical condition and two more sustained serious wounds, while the rest were treated on site.

Veronica Schooner, whose 10-year-old son Alvarez was among the children walking with his fourth- and fifth-grade classmates, described the terrifying moment when the animal passed by so closely that he “even felt its fur.” Other witnesses said a male teacher bore the brunt of the attack, and paramedics airlifted him by helicopter from the scene.

During the incident, teachers reportedly deployed bear spray in an effort to fend off the animal. Some children were inadvertently exposed to the spray in the chaos.

In a social media post, the Nuxalk Nation warned residents that the bear remained at large, urging people to stay indoors and avoid nearby wilderness areas. Local law enforcement and conservation officers, according to the Nuxalk post, were present and “officers are armed.”

Acwsalcta School announced it would be closed the following day and said counselling services would be made available to its students and staff. “It’s hard to know what to say during this very difficult time,” the school said, expressing gratitude for its community and concern for those affected.

British Columbia conservation officers and the RCMP are investigating the incident. The Nuxalk Nation’s message underscored the seriousness of the threat, calling for caution and patience as officials continue their search for the bear.