Warning: This article contains graphic images which some readers may find distressing.
A disabled Army veteran who survived a brutal grizzly bear attack has revealed the one thing that saved his life.
Shayne Patrick Burke, from Massachusetts, US, admitted that he was simply in the 'wrong place at the wrong time' when he was viscously mauled in the Wyoming forest.
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The 'most violent' attack of his life took place on Signal Mountain in Grand Teton National Park on Sunday 19 May.
It seems that the mother grizzly bear was protecting her cub when Shayne was attacked.
Taking to social media, the 35-year-old explained: "I was walking through a thick wooded area in a valley.
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"I over came[sic] a feature in the slope to my right and I noticed a brown bear cub running up a hill about 50-70 yards in front of me. I knew this wasn’t good.
"I unholstered my bear spray and saw the mother bear charging.
"I stood my ground, shouted and attempted to deploy the bear spray but as I did she already closed the gap.
"When she pounced[,] I opted to turn and give her my back and I laid down in the prone position on my belly and braced for the ride."
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He continued: "She then turned, stepping on my back. She bit one of my legs, picking me up and slamming me on the ground multiple times. [S]he bit each leg from my buttocks to my inner knee about three times each."
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However, because he 'never let go of the bear spray can', it ultimately was the one thing that saved his life.
When the bear bit into his hands, she actually bit into the can, which sprayed out the aerosol deterrent.
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"This is what saved my life from the initial attack. I heard her run away, I looked up and instantly ran in the opposite direction up a hill," he said.
"Once I put some distance between me and the bear, I attempted to call my wife," he added, with photos shared in the post showing him covered in blood presumably seconds after the attack.
"It didn’t go through, so I texted 'attacked'.
"She called me back and I told her what happened as I applied improvised tourniquets to my legs."
After staying on line with the operator, Shayne said that 'the helicopter was able to triangulate my location since the spotty service wasn’t giving us an accurate location'.
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With a bit of good luck, the helicopter arrived and took him to St John Hospital to recover.
According to the Daily Mail, the National Park Service (NPS) said they would not attempt to kill the bear.
Shayne is 'expected to fully recover' from the incident.
LADbible Group has contacted NPS and Shayne Patrick Burke for a comment.
Anish Vij