A man has recalled the horror of being attacked by a huge grizzly bear which led to him shooting himself in the leg.
Lee Francis, 65, from Wyoming, was out elk hunting with his son on October 21 in the Rock Creek area of the Sawtooth Mountains when he stumbled upon the giant 8ft bear.
He had been walking near the mountains when, unknown to him, he had accidentally come across a bear's cave.
Mr Francis was just 10ft away from the bear when the 700-pound beast charged towards him, leaving him little time to defend himself.
The mountaineer whipped out his pistol to try and shoot the bear, but he instead shot himself.
He told KSL: "I pulled the pistol and then the bear just came flying out at me. I put my foot up to stop his head from grabbing me, (I) just defensively shot my leg."
Fortunately, the rounds hit and scared the bear off, as the shocking encounter left him fearing for his life.
He added: "I've been around these big bears, but it's a whole different deal when they're coming after you."
Mr Francis was left bleeding on the ground as his son helped his dad onto a horse so they could move to an area where they could seek medical help.
A helicopter came and rescued Mr Francis after his son came to his father's rescue: "He got me on top of the mule and we worked our way out."
Once in the helicopter, the dad was flown to the University of Utah Hospital to receive treatment for a gunshot wound to his lower leg.
Mr Francis was discharged from the hospital later that evening.
However, the impact of the experience will live on with Mr Francis, as he admitted he fears going back to the mountains.
He said: "I'll probably have a nightmare or two next time I'm out in the mountains."
Wildlife officials are still trying to locate the grizzly bear, but the Sublette County Sheriff's Office confirmed the bear hadn't yet been found.
This was the second bear attack in the last week after a brave woman fended off an aggressive bear by punching it in the nose when she was knocked to the ground.
The unnamed woman, from Washington, was left injured after an adult female black bear attacked her when she was at home last Saturday morning.
She was letting her dog out at about 7am in Leavenworth, a village in the Cascade Mountains, when the volatile bear charged at the woman and knocked her to the ground.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife said her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening but she was rushed to hospital with significant injuries where she currently remains.
