Hungarian journalist escapes bear attack during run near Băile Tușnad

Hungarian journalist András Földes, a recipient of Hungary's 2018 Pulitzer Memorial Prize, experienced a harrowing ordeal near Băile Tușnad when a bear attacked him during a run. The encounter happened during the "Tusványos" Summer University event.

Földes recounted the experience on his Facebook page. He had been interviewing prominent Fidesz party leaders earlier in the day. Feeling tired, he decided to go for a short run. The small Transylvanian town lies in a narrow valley, offering limited running paths. He initially chose a route heading uphill but changed his mind after seeing a bear cross the road earlier that day. He opted for a different trail.

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Something moved in the bushes: a slow, insidious movement. It was clear it wasn't a deer, nor a stag, not even a wild boar. But I didn't have to think for long, because the huge, brown body was already visible in the bushes, moving parallel to me.

"Something moved in the bushes: a slow, insidious movement. It was clear it wasn't a deer, nor a stag, not even a wild boar. But I didn't have to think for long, because the huge, brown body was already visible in the bushes, moving parallel to me," Földes wrote. His immediate thought was disbelief. He then realized the bear was approaching, growling. In a sudden reaction, he moved towards the bear and shouted.

The journalist described the bear's growl as it closed in, noting its "enormous head." He lost track of events in the immediate aftermath but later understood the sequence. He managed to escape the encounter, though the details of his escape were not fully elaborated in the post.

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The bear growled as it approached me, and I, changing direction abruptly, took a few steps towards it, while screaming.