The tragic final moments of a hiker who fell to his death after a bear encounter in a forest have been captured on video. Christos Stavrianidis, 61, was with a friend in the Fratko forest in northern Greece when a large brown bear approached them. In a harrowing 49-second clip, Christos can be heard shouting for his friend Dimitris as the bear drew closer.
Soon after, Christos plummeted 2,600 feet off a cliff while calling out for help. The pair had been exploring the area to see the remains of a downed Greek warplane when they stumbled upon the bear. Dimitris recounted how he heard Christos alert him about the bear, which led to a chaotic encounter.
Dimitris described the bear as massive and recounted using a small spray to deter the bear’s attack before Christos tragically fell to his death. The bear’s behavior was deemed defensive by a Greek wildlife organization spokesperson, who explained that the bear was likely reacting to a perceived threat rather than actively seeking to harm.
Christos Stavrianidis passed away on June 8, and his funeral took place four days later. A forensic report confirmed that his death occurred instantly upon impact. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can arise when encountering wildlife in natural settings.