Ice skating bear kills circus manager

A circus manager has been killed at the paws of an ice-skating bear in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, the BBC is reporting.

25-year-old Dmitry Potapov was killed by the ice-skate wearing bear during a rehearsal, and another circus worker was mauled. The injured worker was trying to come to Popatov’s aid. It is not clear what caused the attack, in which Popatov was dragged across the ice by the attacking bear on skates. Circus workers managed to pull the two men away from the bear, and workers barricaded the bear inside the arena. Police later shot and killed the 5-year-old bear.

Kyrgyz doctor Gulnara Tashibekova says the 29-year-old animal handler who attempted to save Popatov and was severely injured in the attack is in critical condition, suffering “bruising to the brain and lacerations to his scalp.” Trained bears are common in Russian circuses, where they are commonly seen not only ice skating but playing hockey.