Man survives bear attack in outhouse

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WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 24 (UPI) -- A Canadian man who survived an attack by a black bear while he was sitting in an outhouse says he'll close the door from now on.

Details of 65-year-old Gord Shurvell's near-fatal encounter Saturday emerged this week as he recovered from long claw marks on his back and bite wounds to his shoulder and head, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

The hunter and fisherman from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was with a friend at a rural cabin near Sioux Lookout in northwestern Ontario when the attack happened, the Winnipeg Free Press reported.

Shurvell told the newspaper he was sitting in the outhouse when the bear suddenly appeared.

"I left the door open because I was enjoying the view, and I was so happy," he said.

The bear approached and grabbed his ankles. Shurvell said he wasn't able to kick or defend himself well with his underwear and pants around his ankles.

The bear began dragging him into the forest as Shurvell screamed for his friend, Daniel Alexander, 63, the CBC said.

Alexander rushed out with a rifle and distracted the bear so he could get a clear shot and not shoot Shurvell.

He shot the bear once in the head and killed it.

Shurvell told the CBC he's changing his outhouse habits.

"I'll probably put up with the stench and shut the door," he said.