DAWSON CREEK, BC -- Two women have a long recovery ahead of them after being attacked by a bear Monday evening near Dawson Creek.

The attack happened just before 7pm on the Wolverine Trail in the Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Club trail system. According to a GoFundMe page set up for one of the victims, a mother, her teenage son, and two friends were looking to take some pictures of the fall colours in the area.

The son was the first to see the large black bear, and alerted the group. The bear charged them and the son punched the bear, trying to scare it off. However, the bear knocked him aside, badly bruising his ribs.

The mother, Analyn Bartolome, and her friend Leosette Cheng were then attacked and seriously injured. The two others ran to a trail cabin and called 911. RCMP arrived roughly an hour later, at which point an officer shot and killed the bear.

Leosette was airlifted to hospital in Edmonton. According to the BC Conservation Officer Service, the others were sent to hospital in Dawson Creek.

However, Analyn’s family now says she too had to be airlifted, and was sent to hospital in Vancouver. She has a 50% chance of losing her arm, and is at a high risk for infection. Her condition is described as serious but stable.

The GoFundMe campaigns for Analyn and Leosette have already raised a combined total of over $12,000 to cover medical expenses.