Scottish woman, 72, survives bear attack in Romania

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A Scottish woman visiting Romania with a friend survived a bear attack in a mountainous area of the country earlier this week.

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And Moira Gallacher, 72, claims a coat she bought at Marks & Spencer helped save her life.

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Gallacher said she and her travel partner, Charmian Widdowson, arrived in Bucharest on Sunday. The next day, the pair ventured to the Carpathian Mountains when they came across two brown bears.

“We saw these bears — a mommy bear, and a baby — they were gorgeous,” Widdowson told Edinburgh Live.

They rolled down a window and took a picture of the animals before the mother bear approached the vehicle and attacked Gallacher’s hand.

“But they weren’t gorgeous. The mommy bear was hungry, and thought my friend was going to be lunch,” Widdowson said.

“She was wearing a thick Marks & Spencer jacket and the poor bear got more jacket than arm.”

Gallacher was rushed to a local hospital by ambulance and is currently in recovery, but could be discharged very soon before heading back to Scotland.

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“I was wearing a padded jacket and a top and another top,” Gallacher said. “That’s what saved my arm.

“I’ve been very, very lucky. The shock has set in today, but everything’s OK now.”

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