Russian Pensioner 'Eaten Alive' By Brown Bear After Joking About Being Mauled By One

A pensioner has been eaten alive by a bear just hours after joking about being attacked and killed by one.

Alexander Korneyev was out picking wild mushrooms when a brown bear savagely mauled him in eastern Russia, just outside the village of Suluk, about 5,300 miles east of Moscow.

The 66-year-old had only a penknife to try and defend himself against the powerful animal, but was unable to do so and was 'eaten alive'.

When the retired railway construction worker was found, it's said that not a single spot was left untouched.

According to reports, the lacerated remains of the elderly man were found on a dirt road close to the village.

After discovering Mr Korneyev's corpse, locals hunted the bear down and shot it dead. It's said the animal still had the man's remains inside its stomach.

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Residents were horrified at the brutality of the attack and were especially shocked as it is an area where bears 'have never attacked humans' in living memory.

Speaking about the attack, the head of the village council Sergey Ryabov said: "There was blood everywhere. His penknife was broken in half, and there were signs of a fight.

"His body was lying face down, there was no single untouched spot."

According to a local report: "The bear ate the man."

Mr Korneyev's death was made even more tragic as he had called his wife before the attack and reportedly joked about being killed by a bear.

He is said to have told her: "I'm going to pick mushrooms. If I don't call you again by 10am, it means I've been eaten by a bear."

Mr Ryabov said: "It was a joke, but he evoked evil with his words."

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He added: "Alexander loved picking mushrooms. He had a favourite spot just a short distance from the village."

A video taken by the residents who tracked down the bear, showed the animal's remains in the undergrowth.

According to reports, there has been an influx of bears close to towns and villages across Siberia and the Far East of Russia in recent weeks.

It's believed this has been caused by raging wildfires through the vast region, and a shortage of bears' natural food in some districts. Residents say several bears have been spotted prowling near the village.

Signs have been posted urging people not to go to the forest or pick mushrooms.

Police are investigating Mr Korneyev's death.

Topics: Attack, World News, Interesting, Animals, Bear, Russia

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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