An Ohio woman, Susan Cenkus, took her two toddlers on a hike at a Tennessee park.
While visiting a waterfall, the three were attacked by a black bear.
Cenkus and her boy, Luke, survived, but her daughter, Elora, was killed by the bear.
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Here is how Cenkus described the attack to 10TV News:
"On April 13, 2006, my son, Luke, and (daughter) Elora and I took a trip to Chihowee, which isin the Cherokee National Forest and we went up there just to enjoy the day."
"We had some extra time and I told Elora about this beautiful water fall, called BentonFalls. So we took the hike back, which was approximately a mile back."
"There was also another family down there, a man and wife and their two children. And, aswe were standing around the creek and talking and looking at the waterfall, we happened to glanceup into the foliage and there was a black bear."
"So, when we saw the bear, we decided to go across the creek. This was just a matter ofseconds, very, very close by. The bear was already upon us."
"I looked up and the bear had Luke with his, with his paw. He had his paw on his head andhe was twisting his claw into Luke's head."
"I immediately ran toward the bear and grabbed the bear - not the bear - but I grabbedLuke. When I grabbed Luke, I pushed him to where everybody else was standing."
"I stood and I stared at the bear and we just kind of stared at each other and I realized atthat point he was intent on harming us."
"I thought if I could get together with the group, we would be more intimidating, so when Iturned around to head toward the group, the bear bit into my neck. When he did that, Irealized my life was over."
"I was rescued and was taken by Lifeflight to Erlinger, which is a trauma hospital inChattanooga. When they closed the doors to the helicopter, I went out and I did not wake upfor nine days."
"When I woke up, I woke up knowing that my daughter had been killed by the bear. I was inthe hospital for 22 days, with a total of seven surgeries to repair all of the damage that had beendone."
"You know what we are, is so much more important inside than what we are on the outside andreally, the scars (on my arm) never really bothered me."
"Luke is doing very, very well and he is such a joy in our lives and we are so grateful thathe's doing fine. I always say Elora is a hero because I believe she saved our lives."
"Every single night before Elora would go to bed, we would pray and she would pray for everyoneand I would feel very compelled to say to her, 'Elora, if Mommy can't be with you, I want you toknow that Jesus is always with you and he'll send his angels to be with you. I knew it in myheart that she was OK."
"She is with us every day, every single day and she lives in our hearts and we just feel soblessed to have had her for almost seven years."
"Our lives never be the same again. We miss Elora and we understand that bad things canhappen. However, we are determined to continue enjoying life and to not allow this to stopus."
Editor's Note:
Two bears were caught in the area. One had evidence of the family's DNA. Cenkussaid it is still a mystery about how Elora was attacked. Rescuers found her bodynearby.
The attack was described as rare because the family had no food with them. Cenkus was alsotold that the animal was a predatory bear.
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