Kelly Murphy was snowboarding at Japan’s Hakuba 47 Winter Sports Park near Nagano when a brown bear began chasing her down the hill. Unaware of the danger, Kelly had her headphones on and was singing Rihanna’s “Work” while recording a “selfie video.”
Completely oblivious to the bear racing behind her, she continued snowboarding until her speed left the bear far behind on the icy slope. It wasn’t until Kelly reviewed the footage later that she realized how close she had been to a life-threatening encounter.
“OMG!” she wrote on YouTube. “I was watching my snowboarding video and saw a bear chasing me! I almost got eaten! … Everyone, be careful!”
The video has sparked debate, with some claiming it’s fake, similar to other viral stunts like the man diving into the sea with a shark. However, others, including Murphy, believe it’s genuine. Bears are known to emerge from hibernation around that time, and sightings near the ski slopes have been reported in previous years. Additionally, the mountain is equipped with loudspeakers designed to deter bears, adding credibility to the story.
Whether real or not, it’s a chilling reminder to stay alert—and a great story to share from a ski trip!