Human nature often leads us to imagine passing away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones. Yet the reality is that many people face sudden and tragic ends. In 2011, 19-year-old Olga Moskalyova from eastern Siberia, Russia, suffered an unimaginable fate when she was attacked and eaten alive by a brown bear—all while on the phone to her mother.
Olga and her stepfather, Igor Tsyganenkov, had been walking along a river near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky when a large mother bear suddenly attacked. Olga initially managed to avoid the bear’s grasp, but tragically her stepfather was overpowered—the bear crushed his skull and snapped his neck.
In shock, Olga called her mother Tatiana, running about 200 feet away before the bear chased her down. Olga’s final moments included multiple calls to her mother as she was mauled. Tatiana first thought it was a prank when Olga called, but the terrifying sounds of growling and chewing proved otherwise.
Olga repeatedly cried out, “Mum, the bear is eating me! It’s such agony. Mum, help!” As the mother listened helplessly, she called for help, unaware that Igor was already dead.
In a heart-wrenching call an hour later, Olga said, “Mum, the bears are back. She brought her three cubs. They’re… eating me.” Her final words were chilling: “Mum, it’s not hurting any more. I don’t feel the pain. Forgive me for everything, I love you so much.”
The authorities and family arrived after Olga’s last calls to find the brutal aftermath. The bear reportedly was still feeding on Igor. Later, hunters were sent to track down and kill the bear and her cubs.
Olga’s story is a tragic reminder of nature’s raw power and the real dangers some face far from the safety most imagine in their final moments.
