And So It Goes

Last October, I told the story of a co-worker, a Scottish woman named Marianne, who was attacked by a bear while hiking near Nagano. She returned to Scotland in May, but I hadn't heard from (or about) her until today.

It must have been a slow news day in Scotland back in June, but it seems Marianne told her story and the story was picked up by the BBC's Radio Scotland:

Friday, 27 June, 2003
Woman fights bear with umbrella

A Scottish tourist, who has just returned from Japan, has told how she beat off an attacking bear with an umbrella.

Marianne Campbell, 42, from Tain in Easter Ross, was hiking in Karuizawa, near Tokyo when the incident took place.

Miss Campbell tried to run off after spotting the animal but told how it gave chase and knocked her to the ground.

With nothing more than a plastic brolly to defend herself, she managed to escape with just a small cut on her forehead.

Speaking on Radio Scotland, Miss Campbell said: "Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a black shape about five metres to my right. I thought it was a wild boar, so I thought I would go and run around a tree.

"By the time I started to run away, I saw it was a bear.

"When it stood up it was easily the same height as me and it knocked me to the ground with its paw."

She described how she lay on her back, swiping at the bear with her umbrella whilst screaming as loud as she could.

"I wouldn't have had the courage to fight back if it wasn't for my brolly," she said.

'Empowering experience'

Miss Campbell added: "It eventually ran off and I got up and ran too - in the opposite direction.

"I met a Japanese couple who took me to hospital."

Miss Campbell escaped with just a cut on her forehead and a faint scar is her only reminder of the attack.

She describes her experience as "empowering."

"If I can fight off a bear with a brolly, I can do anything," she said.