MIRNY, Russia, June 21 (UPI) — A Russian woman gave birth in a remote Siberian forest as authorities worked to protect her and her family from surrounding bears.
The woman began feeling labor pains, as she went on a fishing trip in the republic of Yakutia with her husband and other relatives 40 weeks into her pregnancy.
“I decided to help my husband and relatives with fishing,” the woman identified as Aleksandra Matrosova told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, according to RT. “The lake was not too far, but the road was impassable.”
Matrosova’s family attempted to rush her to the closest hospital but became stranded in the forest when their SUV stalled after falling into a swamp.
Her husband was eventually able to contact a local hospital who sent emergency crews to treat Matrosova on foot, as the swamp prevented vehicles from entering the area.
Police were forced to fire shots in the air during the birth because several bears were inhabiting the area due to mating season.
“Bears have their mating season – it’s a dangerous time!” Rescuers said. “Their huge footprints were everywhere. We were shooting and making noise for at least two hours to make sure the predators didn’t come close.”
The baby girl was successfully delivered before hospital staff arrived on the scene to provide Matrosova with treatment and both were in “satisfactory” condition after experiencing “great stress” during the birth.
