Men floating Alaska river save drowning bear

[August 03, 2012]  KENAI, Alaska (AP) -- Three Alaska men are being credited with saving a brown bear from drowning.

The Peninsula Clarion reports (http://is.gd/JxWIpR) that Dustin Klepacki (KLUH'-pahk-ee) was floating the Kenai River with his father and their friend last weekend when they came upon the bear cub drowning in a whirlpool.

They tried to bump the bear out of the whirlpool, but the water caught their boat and they turned in circles as the bear became more frantic.

Finally, the current brought the boat up against the bear, and Dustin's father, Mike Polocz (POLE'-is), was able to nudge the bear to slower-moving water. The bear swam to shore.

Another friend, Charlie Mettiale (MUH-teel), filmed the rescue on his iPhone which has been posted to YouTube, complete with the bear's cries.

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Online: http://youtu.be/TMFeOMbcKwM

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Information from: (Kenai, Alaska) Peninsula Clarion, http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/

[Associated Press]

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