Yellowknife (Sep 27/04) - Wildlife officers shot and killed a grizzly bear Thursday, after it attacked and seriously injured two men working near the abandoned Colomac Mine site, 230 kilometres north of Yellowknife.

The injured -- Tommy Lafferty and an unidentified employee of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development -- were among a party of three who were taking water samples about four kilometres from camp when the grizzly attacked.

Raymond Bourget, senior wildlife officer with the Department of Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Development, said the men were attacked after they ventured too close to the grizzly's food stash -- the carcass of a young adult black bear.

"Grizzly bears are going to protect their meat," said Bourget. "Meat is extremely important this time of year as they prepare for hibernation."

Bourget said they found the kill Wednesday evening, several metres from where the men were attacked, on the eastern shore of a lake near the mine.

The following day, wildlife officers took to the skies in a helicopter and followed the grizzly's tracks in the snow. They killed the bear with a shotgun while it was on the run.

Bourget said the 550lb. male grizzly was skinned and the carcass given to Dogrib elders.

Tommy's father, former North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty, reported that the 25-year-old Yellowknife resident successfully underwent surgery Thursday but now faces a long and difficult recovery.

Lafferty flew down to Edmonton with his wife Thursday morning, where his son had been medevaced several hours earlier.

He said surgeons had to remove a piece of skin from Tommy's left leg -- the only limb on his body that wasn't severely injured -- and graft it onto the back of his head, where a substantial part of his scalp had been torn out in the attack.

His left arm, which sustained multiple fractures when the bear violently shook him with its jaws, was bandaged and placed in a cast.

Lafferty said his son's right hand was severely bruised and is still swollen from using his fist to beat at the bear.

His right knee is riddled with puncture wounds where the bear sunk in its teeth.

He said the biggest worry doctors have right now is infection.

As of Friday, Tommy was hooked up to ventilator when his lungs began to fill with fluid. He was conscious, however, and able to pass notes to his family.

There is no word on how the other victim in the attack is faring, although it is believed his injuries were less severe.

Tommy the hero

Lafferty said the third man in the party, another DIAND employee who identified himself as "Derek," approached him when they were at Stanton Territorial Hospital Wednesday evening, and said Tommy saved his life by diverting the bear's attention.

Tommy's girlfriend, Ashley Frise, flew down to Edmonton Saturday to be at his bedside. The couple has two young children, Kiana, 2, and Alexa, 1.

She said Tommy called her from the mine site shortly after the attack, his adrenaline still pumping.

"He sounded like he was excited," said Frise. "He said, 'I want you to be there when I get there (to the hospital).'"

She said friends and elders told her they were amazed that he went "face-to-face" with a grizzly bear and lived to tell about it.

Nonetheless, she is still concerned about his injuries.

"I'm just really hoping he pulls through," said Frise. "He's a really tough guy anyways."