What does it feel like to survive a grizzly attack? For Braxton Meyers, it brought utter relief and the realization that he now has a friend for life.

Why is that? "A lot of people say they'd take a bullet for a friend. Well, I got mauled by a bear for mine," said Riley Hill.

Meyers and Hill were bowhunting elk in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, west of Henrys Lake in Island Park, Idaho.

"We were really excited to get up there, explore the country, and see some wildlife and elk," said Hill. "… We’ve had a lot of elk on our trail cams up there. So we were excited, thinking this was going to be such a great year."

But before either could take a shot at an elk, they found themselves face-to-face with a 530-pound grizzly bear, according to East Idaho News. The bear charged, and both 20-year-olds immediately dropped their bows, reaching for their sidearms.

Hill managed to pull his 10mm Springfield from its holster, shooting the bear in the face and shoulder before it "clamped down on his arm… and began flinging Hill around."

Meyers "fumbled around," but finally drew his Taurus 1911 .45 ACP pistol. He fired about five shots before the gun jammed.

"I had to be really careful with my shots," Meyers recalled. "By then, the bear was on top of Riley. His shoulders were between its front paws, and his legs were stretched out beneath the bear’s stomach… I couldn’t see anything Riley was doing. I could only see the bear on him."

It took 24 bullets to kill the grizzly. Hill recalled feeling "the recoil from the bullets hitting the bear" as he was being attacked.

Hill sustained serious injuries to his arm and shoulder. Meyers, using first aid training from Boy Scouts, wrapped his friend's arm. With the bear down, Meyers dropped a pin to his brother, Boone, and another friend, who arrived within seven minutes, as reported by East Idaho News.

"All I saw was this massive bear lying on the ground. It was an unbelievable sight," said Boone Meyers. "They were both up, still alive, thankfully."

Hill was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Fortunately, no arteries were punctured in the attack. He received 40 staples and numerous stitches, but his arm is mobile. Doctors estimate his full recovery will take about two months.

The grizzly, nicknamed "King of the Hill" by local ranchers, was one of the first bear-human encounters in the area this year, according to Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) Director Matt Pieron.

Since grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act, it’s illegal to shoot them unless in self-defense. IDFG conducted a thorough investigation, concluding that Hill and Meyers acted lawfully.

70MAX extends best wishes for Riley Hill’s speedy recovery.

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