A seasoned Greek hiker, Christos Stavrianidis, died after falling into a deep ravine in northeastern Greece following an encounter with a bear, rescue authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Monday in the remote Fraktou forest, near the Bulgarian border, as Stavrianidis and fellow experienced hiker Dimitris Kioroglou were trekking through the area. According to Kioroglou, the pair unexpectedly came across a bear, prompting a confrontation that ended in tragedy.
“I suddenly saw a bear which attacked me,” Kioroglou told NewsIT. “My dog delayed it for a few seconds. I used pepper spray, and it headed to where my friend was and knocked him into the ravine.”
Stavrianidis, 55, was discovered later by rescue teams in an 800-meter (2,600-foot) ravine and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kavala hospital, the national emergency medical service (Ekav) said.
Panos Stefanou, a spokesman for Greece’s wildlife conservation group Arcturos, said the bear’s behavior appeared to be defensive. “This is not an aggressive attack. The bear likely perceived the hikers as a threat and was trying to push them back,” he told state broadcaster ERT.
The pair had been heading toward the site of a decades-old Greek military plane crash, deep within the forest. Stavrianidis rediscovered the wreckage last year and had since been working to chart a more accessible path to allow others to visit the largely intact remains.
“It’s a beautiful discovery that deserves to be viewed on location… the fuselage is nearly intact,” Stavrianidis had said in an interview with a local journalist. “It’s a treasure of nature and should be left in the forest.”
Fraktou forest, known for its rugged terrain and rich wildlife, is home to a small population of brown bears. While bear sightings are rare, conservationists urge caution and proper preparedness when hiking in such remote areas.
Written By Rodney Mbua
