Bear Attack Kills 70-Year-Old Man in Seferihisar, Turkey

Seventy‑year‑old Osman Güntaş died after a bear attacked him while he was sleeping on a bench in front of his home in Doğanbey Mahallesi, part of Seferihisar district in Izmir, Turkey. Emergency services were called after neighbours heard the incident; jandarma and medical teams arrived, transported the victim first to Seferihisar Necat Hepkon State Hospital and then to Dokuz Eylül University Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Local officials said the bear had been seen in the area for about two weeks, prompting the district mayor to report sightings to the governor’s office and the Nature Conservation and National Parks Directorate. The animal was believed to have come from the nearby town of Ödemiş and had previously attacked livestock in Doğanbey. Authorities have launched a wide search and investigation, and have warned residents to avoid going out alone at night.

The incident highlights growing concerns about wildlife encounters in the region and has prompted calls for increased monitoring and public safety measures.