She survived a bear attack: 'Played dead'

Noo-am Saisuk, a berry picker working near Lycksele, Sweden, recounted her terrifying encounter with a bear, an incident where a backpack filled with berries may have saved her life. The attack occurred as she noticed disturbed vegetation, indicating a bear's presence.

Suddenly facing a full-grown bear less than ten meters away, Saisuk screamed as the animal charged. The bear seized her arms, throwing her to the ground and inflicting deep wounds on her head and ear. Her left hand's bones were crushed as she instinctively raised her arms to shield herself. The bear also began tearing at the berry backpack on her back, its teeth penetrating the bag and causing significant bleeding.

With her nearest colleague hundreds of meters away, Saisuk realized the backpack had acted as a shield during the most intense moments of the attack. "I don't know if I would be alive now without this berry backpack," she reflected. She then changed tactics, opting to play dead instead of resisting further, a strategy that proved effective.

After several minutes, the bear disengaged and left. Saisuk, suffering from broken ribs and severe bite injuries, managed to reach her vehicle. Facing a dead phone battery, she transferred her SIM card to a Thai phone to call her colleagues. Initially disbelieving, they quickly grasped the severity of her condition and transported her to the hospital.