Story Archive

First Aid Merit Badge Completed

A Boy Scout troop was on an afternoon hike at the Splitrock Reservoir near Rockaway Township, N.J., when the troop’s leader, Christopher Petronino, 50, ducked into a cave. He disturbed a hibernating bear, who was unhappy with the rude awakening: the bear mauled him. Petronino, armed with a rock hammer, fought back while the boys waiting outside called 911 — but couldn’t describe exactly where they were. The bear eventually ran, and Petronino, the only one of the group who knew their exact location, got on the phone. He was helicoptered to a hospital, where he was treated for multiple bite wounds. (RC/New York Daily News) ...While the boys were denied the badge for GPS Location Skills, that was made up for by getting the badge for Intelligence by sending the leader in first.