Current:Home > InvestMontana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital. -ProsperityStream Academy
Montana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital.
Rekubit View
Date:2025-04-09 18:23:48
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! (711)
Related
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Hunter Biden’s tax case heads to a California courtroom as his defense seeks to have it tossed out
- What Lamar Odom Would Say to Ex Khloe Kardashian Today
- Sleek Charging Stations that Are Stylish & Functional for All Your Devices
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- MLB's five most pivotal players to watch for 2024
- Reseeding the Sweet 16: March Madness power rankings of the teams left in NCAA Tournament
- Are you eligible to claim the Saver's Credit on your 2023 tax return?
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- MLB's five most pivotal players to watch for 2024
Ranking
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Illinois helps schools weather critical teaching shortage, but steps remain, study says
- Famed American sculptor Richard Serra, the ‘poet of iron,’ has died at 85
- California Man Arrested After Allegedly Eating Leg of Person Killed by Train
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- What to know about the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore that left at least 6 presumed dead
- Biden administration approves the nation’s seventh large offshore wind project
- Lawsuit says Ohio’s gender-affirming care ban violates the state constitution
Recommendation
Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
Sister Wives' Hunter Brown Shares How He Plans to Honor Late Brother Garrison
Frantic text after Baltimore bridge collapse confirms crew OK: 'Yes sir, everyone is safe'
Search for survivors in Baltimore bridge collapse called off as effort enters recovery phase
Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
Cook up a Storm With Sur La Table’s Unbelievable Cookware Sale: Shop Le, Creuset, Staub, All-Clad & More
Brittany Mahomes Shares She's Struggling With Hives and Acne in New Makeup-Free Selfies
Pregnant Chick-fil-A manager killed in crash with prison transport van before baby shower