Hero boy, 16, who distracted an attacking bear to save his cousin, 13, is found dismembered and buried by the beast after rescue team arrive too late

  • WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: Rodion and Boris Burakov were ambushed walking back to their village in Russia's Kamchatka peninsula
  • The bear went for Boris at first but Rodion distracted it by running the other way
  • A rescue team shot the bear dead and then discovered Rodion's remains nearby 
  • Rodion is expected to receive a posthumous award for his exceptional bravery

By Will Stewart for MailOnline

Published: 12:42 EST, 7 November 2018 | Updated: 13:49 EST, 7 November 2018

Rodion Burakov has been hailed a hero after he distracted a brown bear which ambushed him and his 13-year-old cousin Boris as they returned home to their remote Russian village

Rodion Burakov has been hailed a hero after he distracted a brown bear which ambushed him and his 13-year-old cousin Boris as they returned home to their remote Russian village

A 16-year-old boy died a 'hero' after distracting an attacking brown bear and saving the life of his younger cousin.

Boris Burakov, 13, escaped, but his relative Rodion Burakov was torn apart and killed by the angry beast in eastern Russia.

The wild animal had buried his dismembered remains beneath fallen leaves and twigs by the time rescuers arrived at the scene alerted by the younger boy who had managed to flee. 

A search party found the bear guarding his prey and shot the beast dead.

A macabre video shows how a woman paramedic found the boy's dismembered body buried by the bear.

Scroll down for video 

A paramedic found the boy's dismembered body buried by the bear and appears to check his pulse not realising at that moment that the corpse - hidden by leaves and branches - was dismembered

A paramedic found the boy's dismembered body buried by the bear and appears to check his pulse not realising at that moment that the corpse - hidden by leaves and branches - was dismembered

She appears to check his pulse not realising at that moment that the corpse - hidden by leaves and branches - was dismembered with the lower limbs torn off, and arms partially dismembered.  

Covering prey with soil, branches and other forest products is typical of brown bears, as it saves their food from scavengers, such as birds. The process also keeps the meat warm to speed up the fermentation processes that make it easier for them to eat.

The two teenagers were ambushed on a nine-mile walk back to their remote village in Russia's Kamchatka peninsula after going to a sauna.

Rodion's friends made a video in his memory, ending with the words: 'We remember, love, grieve. You will forever remain in our hearts. Farewell …'

Rodion's friends made a video in his memory, ending with the words: 'We remember, love, grieve. You will forever remain in our hearts. Farewell …'

Rodion, 16, with a female friend on his shoulders. He sustained 'life-ending injuries' suffering a 'scalped head wound' and 'an open skull fracture'

Rodion, 16, with a female friend on his shoulders. He sustained 'life-ending injuries' suffering a 'scalped head wound' and 'an open skull fracture'

The wild animal had buried the boy's dismembered remains beneath fallen leaves and twigs where it was discovered by rescuers 

The wild animal had buried the boy's dismembered remains beneath fallen leaves and twigs where it was discovered by rescuers 

Boris told rescuers how the bear at first attacked him but Rodion - who could have escaped with his life - distracted the beast by running past it deeper into a forest.

The bear let the younger boy go free and chased Rodion, who was caught and savaged by the wild animal.

District chief Vladimir Voitsekhovsky said Boris raised the alarm at his local village fire station.

Firefighters and hunters rushed to the scene but were too late to save Rodion.

'They found a three-year-old predator that had already buried the body of the older teenager,' he said.

Locals and the media praised Rodion as a 'hero' for his 'selfless act' in saving Boris. He is expected to receive a posthumous award for his exceptional bravery
The bear let the younger boy go free and chased Rodion, who was caught and savaged by the wild animal

Locals and the media praised Rodion as a 'hero' for his 'selfless act' in saving Boris. He is expected to receive a posthumous award for his exceptional bravery

'The beast was shot on the spot.'

A spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee, which is probing the incident, said: 'The 13-year-old was able to escape and report the predator's attack.

'The older teenager died from the claws of a bear as he protected (his cousin).'

He sustained 'life-ending injuries' suffering a 'scalped head wound' and 'an open skull fracture' and torn off lower and partly upper limbs, reported The Siberian Times.

Locals and the media praised Rodion as a 'hero' for his 'selfless act' in saving Boris.

He is expected to receive a posthumous award for his exceptional bravery.

A search party found the bear guarding his prey and shot the beast dead but they arrived too late to save Rodion

District chief Vladimir Voitsekhovsky said Boris raised the alarm at his local village fire station. Firefighters and hunters rushed to the scene but were too late to save Rodion

District chief Vladimir Voitsekhovsky said Boris raised the alarm at his local village fire station. Firefighters and hunters rushed to the scene but were too late to save Rodion

Rodion's friends made a video in his memory, ending with the words: 'We remember, love, grieve. You will forever remain in our hearts. Farewell …'

A comment read: 'He died defending Boria (Boris) from the bear ... '

Reports say Boris was admitted to hospital but his life is not in danger. 

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Hero boy, 16, who distracted an attacking bear to save his cousin, 13, is found dismembered

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