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Denver Teen Mauled By Bear In Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CBS4/AP) - Alaska State Troopers say a brown bear that was with her cub attacked several teens participating in a survival skills course, and two have suffered critical, life-threatening injuries.

Troopers say the teens were in a group of seven students participating in a 30-day backcountry course by the National Outdoor Leadership School when the attack occurred Saturday night about 120 miles north of Anchorage. They were rescued early Sunday.

NOLS spokesman Bruce Palmer says another group of seven students and three instructors is waiting about six miles away for a helicopter hired by the Lander, Wyo.-based organization.

"The teens reported to troopers that at approximately 8:30 the night before they were conducting a river crossing in a line, one in front of the other. The people at the back of the line stated that as they were crossing they heard their group members at the front of the line screaming there was a bear," Megan Peters with Alaska State Patrol said. "The two teens at the front of the line received the brunt of the bear attack. After the attack was over the teens were able to set up a camp, provide first aid to each other."

Bear Mauling Map
(credit: CBS)

Palmer says 17-year-old Joshua Berg of New City, N.Y., and 17-year-old Samuel Gottsegen of Denver were the worst injured with bear bite wounds. They are listed in serious condition at an Anchorage hospital.

Palmer says two others also were injured.

- By Rachel D'Oro, AP Writer (CBS4 contributed to this report)

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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