Bear Grylls: From boa constrictor attacks to the lessons learned from surviving the wild
Seconds after wading into murky water, it happens. Bear Grylls feels the weight of a boa constrictor as it curls around his neck. It’s not long before he feels out of breath. Even worse, he can’t touch the bottom. The massive snake is pulling him down.That’s when his film crew signals — clearly, it’s time for them to intervene. But Grylls waves them off, managing to break himself free.For most, that would be our worst nightmare. For him, terrifying as it was, it’s all part of the job.Gnarly situations like that have made him a household name. In 2006, his first TV show, Discovery Channel’s “Man vs. Wild,” catapulted him into stardom. He became known for eating things like camel intestines and drinking his own urine — all in the name of survival (and entertainment, of course). The series was such a hit, it ran for seven seasons and grabbed the attention of an estimated 1.2 billion viewers.Fast forward to today, nearly 20 years later, and he’s still at it. Lately, he’s been busy filming season nine of National Geographic’s “Running Wild With Bear Grylls” and launching a new show called “Adventure Garage With Bear Grylls,” which, he says, is a cross between “Top Gear” and “Man vs. Wild.”Thanks to his father, Grylls developed an up-for-anything attitude at an early age. After school they’d scramble around on the small sea cliffs near their home on the Isle of Wight, off the coast of England.“We were always outside, tinkering around fixing up old boats or horse riding or making tree houses,” he recalls. “Those years were special. He sadly died too young, but I am forever grateful for those early years of adventure and closeness.”It left him with a deep connection to the great outdoors.“I think that being outdoors felt like I was in a place that stoked the wild part of me,” he says. “And I liked that feeling. It felt different to how so many of the people around seemed to be, much more into appearance and being cool. Whereas to me being cool was being muddy and being strong and being able to do stuff like climb things.”
Life off camera
Over the years, Grylls has been asked to play the iconic role of James Bond. He’s trekked across the Alaskan wilderness with former President Barack Obama. King Charles even appointed him as an Honorary Colonel. While there’s no doubt he fully appreciates it all, he’s always longing for more time as a homebody. When he has downtime, he’s with his wife, Shara, and their three sons on a remote island off the coast of Wales where they live. Or at their cabin in the Swiss mountains.“The family are always a shining light to get back to,” he says.At home, he likes to cook, play the guitar and sing “like a pregnant goat.” Swimming in the sea keeps him happy as does training outdoors with a pull-up bar and a pair of rusty old weights.When he’s on the road, he catches up on his writing. To date, he’s penned more than 100 books. But, he says, his favorite is his latest, “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” which retells the life of Jesus and hits bookstores this summer.“Nature lights us up,” he says. “It gives a pride and confidence that can’t be bought. It has to be earned. I see that every day in my own life and in my children too. The wild changes us all for the better.”When it comes to eating raw fish, fending off saltwater crocodiles and crossing the North Atlantic in an inflatable boat during a gale force storm, Grylls is your man. The 51-year-old survivalist, hunter and global outdoorsman knows a thing or two about thriving in the world’s harshest environments. That said, here are some of his top tips for hunters and anglers facing wilderness emergencies.
Snake bites
Grylls has had many close encounters with snakes over the years. But, he says, fortunately, snakes typically prefer to avoid humans. Just remember to be mindful while you are trekking to your hunting spot.“Think about where you are stepping, or in a jungle, where you place your hands on branches,” he says. “Be careful of snakes when in brush and deep leaf areas, wear suitable boots and be careful stepping over logs where snakes can often be tucked away.”If you are unlucky enough to get bitten, try to identify what the snake looks like and work on getting help right away. “Wash the wound, note how the bite looks,” he says. “An envenomated bite will have what looks like two puncture wounds, whereas nonvenomous bites often look like a row of teeth.“Keep the wound low if you can and apply a releasable tourniquet above the wound to slow blood flow to the area,” Grylls recommends. Don’t try to suck or cut out venom: That’s a myth and will simply accelerate the venom entering your bloodstream.
Animal attacks
“Remember the adage: black fight back, brown lie down,” he says. “This is a good one to remember but not totally foolproof as brown bears are especially unpredictable. If a black bear attacks you then make a lot of noise and act big and aggressive. If it’s a brown bear try to move away slowly and if charged try to play dead and hope the bear will leave you alone.”While mountain lion attacks are rare, if you live and hunt or fish in places like California, Montana, Colorado and Arizona, you could potentially encounter one.“Mountain lions are most dangerous if they feel threatened or are hungry,” Grylls says. “If attacked, fight back with anything you can, including your bare hands, rocks, sticks or even a backpack as a shield.”Above all, resist the instinct to bolt. That can cause the mountain lion’s hunting instincts to kick in.
Dehydration
When you are out hunting or fishing, it can be easy to forget about drinking enough water. It's a potentially fatal mistake.“Dehydration is one of the deadliest killers in hot climates and deserts,” he says. He should know, he’s survived summertime in the Sahara where without water or shade, your life expectancy is a mere three hours.Grylls says the key is to move in the early morning or evenings, seek out shade and keep sipping fluids regularly. “In extreme heat you can need up to a half gallon of water an hour,” he says.The first symptoms of dehydration are often headache and thirst. “Then these become worse, and your concentration and decision-making skills become affected,” Grylls says. “Soon you stop sweating and your body starts to shut down. As with cold, the key is to act early.”
Living with the wild
From remote islands to scorching deserts, Grylls has forged a life centered around embracing the natural world. His survival skills have entertained millions, but his message transcends the spectacle of his stunts. For hunters and anglers, his advice goes beyond tactics for enduring emergencies — it’s about cultivating a relationship with nature that enriches our life.Whether facing down predators or sitting in quiet contemplation by a stream, Grylls believes these encounters with the wild ultimately make us more resilient and authentic. The greatest adventure, he suggests, isn’t just surviving in nature — it’s learning to truly live with it.