Bear mauls man and mountain fall injures another in Slovakia

A 36‑year‑old man was attacked by a bear on a meadow near the village of Stráňavy, about 10 km from Žilina, in early June. The animal bit his left forearm, neck, shoulder, back and buttocks. He survived by playing dead and was airlifted by helicopter to the emergency department of Žilina Hospital. Local officials deployed a special response team and installed camera traps, which have not yet captured the bear. The incident contributed to a rise in bear attacks on humans in Slovakia, with 17 incidents reported in 2025.

In a separate accident on 8 June, a 26‑year‑old Slovak man slipped on exposed scree near the village of Višňové, close to the Hoblík climbing route. He suffered injuries to both lower legs and multiple surface abrasions. Four professional and five volunteer mountain rescuers from the Veľká Fatra station treated him on site, secured his legs with splints, and evacuated him by stretcher to a rescue vehicle, then onward to Žilina Hospital for further care.