Hiker Killed in Greece After Bear Knocks Him From 2,600-Foot Cliff

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A hiking trip in northeastern Greece turned fatal on Monday, June 9, after an experienced hiker was pushed off a cliff by a brown bear. His hiking partner survived the attack and provided details of the sudden and tragic encounter.

The incident took place in the Fraktos forest, a region near Greece’s border with Bulgaria. The two men, Christos Stavrianidis and Dimitris Kioroglou, were hiking when a large brown bear appeared unexpectedly. Kioroglou reported that the encounter happened so quickly he had no time to react. His dog intervened, which gave him the few crucial seconds needed to access and use his pepper spray on the animal.

After being sprayed, the bear moved away from him and went toward Stavrianidis, who was standing near the edge of the 2,600-foot cliff. The bear then pushed Stavrianidis into the ravine. After the attack, Kioroglou climbed a tree to safety and called for help. Rescue services later located Stavrianidis, who was pronounced dead from his injuries.

A spokesperson for Arcturos, a non-profit wildlife organization, explained that the bear's actions were likely defensive in nature, meant to neutralize what it perceived as a threat. The Rhodope mountain range where the incident occurred is home to a significant number of the estimated 450 to 500 brown bears living in Greece.