Hunter Killed By Bear That Fell From Tree After Being Shot

LUNENBURG COUNTY, Va. (AP) — Virginia Man Dies After Bear Shot by Hunting Partner Falls on Him

A tragic incident occurred on Dec. 9 in Lunenburg County, Virginia, when a bear shot by one of the hunting partners fell on another member of the hunting group, resulting in his death, according to Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources.

According to the department, the hunting group was tracking the bear when it climbed up a tree. As they moved away from the tree, one of the hunters fired a shot at the bear, causing it to fall onto Lester C. Harvey, a 58-year-old man from Phenix, Virginia, who was standing nearby. Despite receiving first aid from a fellow hunter, Harvey succumbed to his injuries after being transported to two different hospitals.

Harvey, a self-employed contractor and passionate outdoorsman, leaves behind a wife, five children, and eight grandchildren, as mentioned in his obituary.

Tragically, similar incidents have occurred in recent years. In 2018, a man in Alaska was critically injured when a bear shot by his hunting partner tumbled down a slope and struck him, along with dislodging rocks. Additionally, in 2019, another man in North Carolina was injured after a bear he shot in a tree fell on him and started biting him, leading to both of them falling off a cliff. The hunter was hospitalized, while the bear was found dead.