A grizzly bear attacked a group of schoolchildren and teachers during a field trip near Bella Coola, British, Columbia. Eleven people were injured, two critically.

According to NBC News, officials claim that the teachers put themselves in harm’s way to protect the children. They used bear spray and bear bangers in an effort to ward off the attack, likely preventing it from becoming fatal.

Parents say the attack was chaotic, with one teacher taking the brunt of the bear’s aggression and children getting close enough to feel the animal’s fur.

The bear currently remains at large, and the search has expanded to include two additional grizzlies reportedly seen nearby. Authorities are urging residents and visitors to stay indoors and avoid all trails as conservation officers and RCMP teams search for the animal.

Three children and one adult are still hospitalized. The Nuxalk Nation-run Acwsalcta School will remain closed, and counseling is available.

During a recent news conference, Tamara Davidson, minister of environment and parks in the Canadian province, said, "I want to recognize the teachers who took great risk to protect their students," Davidson said. "Their actions deserve our greatest respect and gratitude. They were well prepared, and they are the true heroes."

The attack has renewed debate over the grizzly bear’s protected status in the province. The BC Wildlife Federation linked the rise in grizzly encounters to the province’s 2017 hunting ban, though officials say it’s too early to consider policy changes.