Dang tough to rehash this after it was done. Here are my thoughts based solely on the words spoken in that report and by the client himself. The details of what was done wrong are obvious now. So, there is no need to debate the why, what, or the how's of what happened and, what needed to be done differently before the attack.
The attack happened. The client obviously dropped the magazine out of the gun trying to get the thing to fire. It blows my mind that a hunter of any sorts doesn't know how to fire a Glock. It's the most notorious, trusted handgun made today. Whether these faults were from inexperience or from the shock of the situation is beyond me. We just know it happened that way. Understandable even to those unable to relate. The absolute chaos of a situation like this cannot be comprehended by words. That I am sure of. So, the mistakes made there are ust the results of being in that situation.
The guide obviously upheld his obligation of protecting the client. Because he did not flee when the bear left him and turned on the client. He didn't run. He stayed the course because he had a job to do and was willing to do it. Whether he did that out of dedication to that creed or, the notion they were both together in the fight of their lives is unknown. What is known is he is dead because he DIDN'T run.
Obviously, the client did not run initially. He stood his ground trying to help. In doing so, rendering the firearm useless to the guide when he threw him a gun on an empty chamber, with no clip in it. I'd say his intent was pure. He willingly passed the gun on to the other man because he was unable to make it go bang.
At some point, the sow left the client and went back to the guide. Probable due to his moving around getting the empty gun. Which freed the client allowing him to flee. Which he did. He run off when the opportunity presented itself after tossing the gun to the guide.
The results were the guide died. The client lived with a very minor physical wound. To board an airplane and return home before he even knew if the guide was alive or dead with a 100% certainty.
These are the facts as presented by those in the situation and the investigation.
Now, here is what I think. The client run when he saw that he was likely going to get hurt defending the guide and client team they were by contract and obligation. When the rubber met the road, he picked the road. Leaving the guide to fend for the both of them. That may sound rough but, it is what happened. He chose to leave his guide to fight for them both, to protect his own hide.
I rationalize he must have felt remorse for doing so. Which is why he left the way he did, when he did. And, I imagine he has had a lot of people telling him he did the right thing. I just feel like he probably didn't believe that then and, will have to live with that decision forever. His actions doesn't make him an evil guy. Just a guy that nobody wants to be. And, a guy he was having a hard time being initially. How he feels now is beyond me. Or, how he will feel in the future.
I'm just glad that I wasn't there. No key board warrior here but, I'd stayed and likely died right there with him. Its just the way I'm built. And, I imagine many here are the same way. I could have never left that man to carry the load for both of us. Some people are like that and some aren't. I'm just that way.
Had I been the guide with 5 young kids and a wife I loved at home, it would have been best that I die right there after being left to do so by the client. I'm afraid of what I would have done had I not. I hate it for the guides family. I really do. I feel little remorse for the client. He picked self preservation over commitment to his fellow man and, that is what he got. Its his baby to live with. However he does so, I'm fine with it. Its just not a position I am able to relate too. I'll finish by saying while I personally know only a few here, if I end up in this situation with anyone, count me a statistic. We are going to live or die. but, whatever we do, we are going to do it together. Thats the bond we made when we went hunting together. And, one I'd uphold.
Lesson learned.Lesson learned.
