In a heroic act of courage, a 12-year-old boy potentially saved his father's life by taking down a 200-pound black bear with a single shot from a hunting rifle. The incident occurred on Sept. 6 at a western Wisconsin hunting cabin as Ryan Beierman, 43, found himself in a life-threatening situation, fighting off the bear with his bare hands.

The father and son had initially spotted the wounded black bear from a tree stand earlier in the day and tracked it to a small clearing. However, when the bear charged at them from a dangerously close distance of about 6 feet, the elder Beierman's shots from a pistol all missed. As the bear mauled Ryan, his quick-thinking son, Owen, fired a single shot that ultimately saved his father's life by killing the aggressive animal.

The intense attack lasted approximately 45 seconds, with Ryan sustaining bites to his forehead, arm, and leg. After the harrowing ordeal, he required 23 stitches to reattach a flap of skin on his cheek. The family's quick actions and Owen's brave shot proved to be pivotal in averting a potentially tragic outcome. The Beierman family's story serves as a harrowing reminder of the unpredictable dangers that can be encountered in the wilderness and the incredible bravery that can emerge in moments of crisis.