The 15-year-old, who was taking part in a wilderness expedition, woke up in his tent to find the bear sat on his feet.

When he tried to get out of the tent, the bear bit him on the arm. He hit back, punching the bear six times.

The bear attacked him again. The boy punched his way free and sounded a personal alarm, rousing other members of the camp, who came to his rescue.

The bear finally turned and legged it after camp members blasted her with pepper spray and fired a flare at her feet.

Recovery

The creature was later found and destroyed.