Inuit hunter fights off polar bear with hammer | CTV Winnipeg
IGLOOLIK, Nunavut — An Inuit hunter saved the life of at least one of his friends when he fended off an attacking polar bear with a hammer.
David Arnatsiaq says he was just outside the Nunavut hamlet of Igloolik to retrieve some walrus meat when a female polar bear and two nearly adult cubs showed up.
The female moved toward one of Arnatsiaq's friends, who had bullets from the group's rifle in his pockets.
Arnatsiaq knew they'd need those bullets, so he put himself in the bear's path armed with the only weapon he could find - a hammer from his snowmobile's glove box.
He shoved the hammer in the bear's mouth, grabbed its ears and the two wrestled for a few seconds until he slipped and lost his footing.
Eventually, his companions loaded their rifle and shot all three bears.
The bear had gone after Arnatsiaq's face as the 58-year-old hunter whaled away at the animal with the hammer.
Arnatsiaq, who once fought off another bear with only a camera, says he has five stitches on his face but feels fine.