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​Hero Dad Fights Wolf To Save Family After It Tears Through Campsite

​Hero Dad Fights Wolf To Save Family After It Tears Through Campsite

Matt Rispoli was camping with his wife and children when a wolf came and attacked their site

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

A heroic dad has gone viral after saving his wife and kids from a wolf attack while camping in Canada.

Matt Rispoli was with his wife and children in Banff National Park, Alberta, when a wolf came and attacked their site.

His wife, Elisa, wrote in a Facebook post praising Matt's bravery: "It was like something out of a horror movie.

"Matt literally threw his body in front of me and the boys, and fought the wolf as it ripped apart our tent and his arms and hands.

"We were screaming for help as he was fighting it and trying to save us, for what felt like an eternity (but I think was anywhere from 1-3 minutes).

"I laid my body on top of the kids and Matt pinned the wolf to the ground and held open its jaw with his hands, and the wolf started to drag Matt away, while I was pulling on his legs trying to get him back. I cannot and don't think I'll ever be able to properly describe the terror."

But Matt wasn't the only father worthy of a medal; a man called Russ Fee who was camping with his family in a nearby tent also ran over to help after hearing the Rispolis screaming for help.

Referring to him as a 'guardian angel', Elisa explained in her post how Russ ran over and 'kicked the wolf' until it finally let go of Matt.

"They had to continue to throw huge rocks at the Wolf while we ran as fast as we could to Russ' mini van to safety," she said.

Russ, who is from Calgary, told the Calgary Eyeopener that when he arrived at the Rispoli's site he saw that their 'entire tent had mostly collapsed', and clocked the wolf trying to pull Matt away.

This was when he ran towards the animal and kicked it as hard as he could.

A photo of Russ Fee from the Inside Edition news report.
CBS

Russ said: "It startled it enough that it let Matt go.

"Matt came flying out. His whole half side was just covered in blood."

Typing from a hospital in Banff, Elisa explained that the rest of the night was 'a blur or EMTs, good Samaritans, waiting for treatment, no phone service and crying'.

Thankfully, after being treated at the hospital for injuries to his hands and arms, Matt is now doing fine.

PA

Following the attack, Rampart Creek Campground was temporarily closed, a spokesperson for Parks Canada said in a press release.

It reopened on Monday following an investigation into the incident, with spokesperson Lesley Matheson saying the wolf believed to have attacked the Rispolis has since been tracked down and killed 'to ensure public safety'.

"Veterinary tests have confirmed that the wolf was in poor condition and likely nearing the end of its natural life span," Matheson said.

"The wolf's condition was likely a contributing factor for its unusual behaviour and this remains a very rare incident."

Featured Image Credit: CBS

Topics: World News, News, Animals, Canada