Man Escapes Charging Polar Bear in Norway by Jumping on Snowmobile—Dramatic Video Captures Close Call

When you wake up in the Arctic, you expect cold coffee—maybe not a polar bear sprinting toward you. In Pyramiden, a remote Arctic town in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, a late-April night turned into a real-life survival thriller. Around midnight, hotel guest Rebecca Baack reported being roused by a commotion: a staff member was facing down a polar bear, trying to scare it off. That’s one wake-up call you don’t snooze.

Rebecca’s video captured the chaos: gunshots ring out as someone dashes away from the massive predator. The would-be defender, apparently channeling all his action-movie instincts, drops his gun and makes a desperate leap onto a snowmobile before tearing away at full speed. The polar bear, perhaps unimpressed with the impromptu getaway, halts the chase as the snowmobile exits stage left.

In the background, a woman’s voice sums it up: "Damn, that guy is brave." If bravery is measured by how fast you can start a snowmobile while being chased by a 1,700-pound carnivore, then yes, he’s basically Arctic James Bond.

The Visit Svalbard tourism site doesn’t sugarcoat things—they call the polar bear the "King of the Arctic" and advise that these apex predators attack fast, with zero warning. Their advice? Never leave settlements without a local guide armed with a firearm. Adult polar bears can tip the scales at a whopping 1,763 pounds, and even cubs are strong enough to be dangerous. In other words, in this neighborhood, you’re the outsider—and potentially the snack.