Current:Home > NewsMontana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital. -ProgressCapital
Montana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital.
View
Date:2025-04-17 09:35:24
A hunter who was attacked by a grizzly bear in Montana's Custer Gallatin National Forest will go home after five weeks in the hospital where he received jaw reconstruction surgery, in addition to other procedures, the hunter, his family and doctors said at a news conference.
Rudy Noorlander, 61, was tracking deer with a group of people on Sept. 8, near Yellow Mule Trail about 50 miles southwest of Bozeman, Montana, when a grizzly bear attacked him. According to the Associated Press, the grizzly bear bit off part of his jaw.
First responders arrived in a helicopter and transferred him to a nearby hospital in Bozeman, Montana. After emergency surgery, he moved to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Noorlander's daughter, Katelynn Davis, spoke for him at a University of Utah Hospital news conference. According to Davis, Noorlander was prepared with a gun and bear spray but needed more time to stop the bear from attacking.
She explained that the only thing that helped Noorlander was that he was with a group that could scare the grizzly bear away.
Recent bear attack:73-year-old woman attacked by bear near US-Canada border, officials say; park site closed
Jaw reconstruction surgery
Dr. Hillary McCrary, a surgeon at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Utah, was present for the news conference. She explained that because his lower jaw and larynx sustained several injuries in the attack, Noorlander underwent many surgeries to correct his jaw, including a reconstruction surgery.
"We took a portion of his fibula bone and some of his skin with an artery and a vein and hooked that to an artery and a vein in the neck," said Dr. McCrary." And then my partner Dr. Cannon took some of the skin's soft tissue and transplanted that to the head and neck to reconstruct his lower lip."
Dr. Mccrary commended Noorlander on his optimism through his surgeries and recovery journey, noting that Noorlander wants to fight through his recovery.
Plans for the future
Noorlander will be able to speak again; however, because of the intensive surgery and trauma to the area around his vocal folds, there is no specific timeline for when Noorlander will fully talk again, according to Dr.McCarthy.
During the news conference, Noorlander answered questions by writing on a whiteboard. Davis was present at the press conference to speak on his behalf.
"The things that give him hope and motivation to get through this is family and life," said Davis. "My job proves that most people are good, and I can't wait to get back to it and win round two."
According to Davis, Noorlander plans to return to work and where the attack happened. It was not his first encounter with a bear; he had been walking the trail years before the attack.
Davis explained that her father would like to write a book one day and jokingly admits that he would like Cole Hauser from the hit TV show "Yellowstone" to play him in a movie.
"Only by the hands of God am I here; I've had a lot of inspirations, and I felt the need to share my story with others," said Noorlander. "Believe it or not, I believe this attack answered my prayers. And, potentially, it can help someone from going through something similar."
veryGood! (56366)
Related
- Sonya Massey's family keeps eyes on 'full justice' one month after shooting
- 2024 Paris Olympics in primetime highlights, updates: Ledecky, Brody Malone star
- Kevin Durant, LeBron James propel USA men's basketball in Olympic opening win over Serbia
- Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi apologizes to wife for losing wedding ring at Paris opening ceremony
- RFK Jr. closer to getting on New Jersey ballot after judge rules he didn’t violate ‘sore loser’ law
- 2024 Olympics: Simone Biles Fights Through Calf Pain During Gymnastics Qualifiers
- Why these Apache Catholics felt faced with a ‘false choice’ after priest removed church’s icons
- Drag queens shine at Olympics opening, but ‘Last Supper’ tableau draws criticism
- Immigration issues sorted, Guatemala runner Luis Grijalva can now focus solely on sports
- Fostering a kitten? A Californian university wants to hear from you
Ranking
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Yes, walnuts are good for you. But people with this medical condition should avoid them.
- Meet 'Bob the Cap Catcher': Speedo-clad man saves the day at Olympic swimming event
- UFC 304 live results: Early prelims underway; match card, what to know
- Kehlani Responds to Hurtful Accusation She’s in a Cult
- Focused amid the gunfire, an AP photographer captures another perspective of attack on Trump
- Why these Apache Catholics felt faced with a ‘false choice’ after priest removed church’s icons
- How the Team USA vs. Australia swimming rivalry reignited before the 2024 Paris Olympics
Recommendation
From bitter rivals to Olympic teammates, how Lebron and Steph Curry became friends
How deep is the Olympic swimming pool? Everything to know about its dimensions, capacity
Mega Millions winning numbers for July 26 drawing: Jackpot rises to $331 million
Oldest zoo in the US finds new ways to flourish. See how it is making its mark.
Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
US men’s basketball team rolls past Serbia 110-84 in opening game at the Paris Olympics
Man sentenced to life after retrial conviction in 2012 murder of woman found in burning home
Video shows small plane crashing into front yard of Utah home with family inside