TWO polar bears fatally mauled a radar technician while he was taking wildlife photos for social media.
A fellow employee fired a non-lethal bear-banger – but it was too late to save Christopher Best from being killed in Canada.
The amateur photographer enjoyed snapping and sharing pics on social media while he worked at a remote radar site for a logistics firm in Nunavut.
Best, 34, had downplayed his family’s fears when they asked him about his proximity to the fierce beasts, reported CTV News today.
But he ended up being attacked by two polar bears on August 8, 2024.
A report has now been released following an investigation into Best’s death.
It was conducted by his employer, Nasittuq Corporation, which operates North Warning System’s (NWS) sites.
This defence system was designed to promote North American air sovereignty and continental security.
It detects aircraft and cruise missiles flying within its radar coverage, and spans more than 5,000 kilometers across Canada’s north.
Shelly Cox, Best’s grieving mom, told CTV that he had told worried family the apex predators were “not close to us.” Canada is home to about 16,000 polar bears.
The rare fatal attack took place on Brevoort Island, southeast of Baffin Island.
During a call shortly before he was killed, Best told his stepdad, “God, dad, you know, I know [distances], right?”
Nasittuq Corporation’s report said he knew polar bears were close by, which is why he went outside to take photos.
On that fateful day, CCTV showed him walking past a large sign warning of polar bears in the area.
While snapping pics, he had assumed one particular bear was a safe distance away.
But unfortunately, unbeknown to Best, a second bear was lurking nearby.
The report said surveillance video showed that bear cutting off an escape route for Best to run to a building for safety.
The second bear attacked him, and it was swiftly joined by the initial bear, which ran across to also maul the stricken man.
“I don’t think he would have went out if he would have known that second bear was there,” Cox added.
She has urged the firm to beef up safety and security measures to stop further fatalities.
For example, Cox wants better fencing, and motion-sensor monitors with alarms, to make such remote radar sites more protective.
The sickening attack was witnessed by a fellow worker, who was having a smoke break.
He yelled for a gun, but there was none to hand.
The staffer then dashed to the accommodation quarter, to seek help from the wildlife monitor.
That person fired a non-lethal bear-banger from a 12-gauge shotgun.
This startled both bears, according to the report, and made them run away.
But one turned back and charged, forcing the wildlife monitor to fatally shoot it.
Sadly it was too late to save Best, whose body was retrieved by truck – as workers kept the surviving bear at bay with a weapon.
Cox said of his death, “We were just in shock.”
This week’s report has proposed fencing to be built at some areas in the camp.
Nasittuq said in a statement that it couldn’t comment as yet as the federal government is still completing its official report.
“We care deeply for the safety and well-being of all our employees and feel for everyone who continues to be affected by this tragic incident,” it added.
