This week’s Manly Man Award goes a guy who’s not afraid to fight when he has to.
Toby Burke, his wife and three children were on a bird-watching hike in their home state of Alaska when what he called a “deranged bear” charged right at them, according to the Homer Tribune.
It was the second time that day the family had seen the bear, which had been acting in a strange manner. After that first sighting, the family lost track of the beast. When it appeard again, it was a mere 50 feet from the group and charging right at them, reported The Daily Mail.
Burke fought the bear off with his bird watching scope at first and then his bare hands. After the bear chomped down on Burke’s left forearm, he use his right hand to deliver the decisive blow to the bear’s face.
ABC News reported that wildlife agents were called after the bear ran off, and that officers later shot the bear when it charged at them.
Reliving the attack for the media, Burke said that after the bear knocked his scope and tripod out of his hands, “It was just me between my family and the bear.”
Burke did what he had to do to save his family, and there’s no doubt he was ready to lay down his life if it meant his family could get away — a choice every father hopes he has the balls to make should the situation call for it.
A Manly Man doesn’t get any bigger than Toby in our book. Men, raise your glasses to this dauntless dad.
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Originally published on TheManFAQ.com
photo: rukakuusamo / flickr